DCCS board examines ongoing construction

Greensburg Daily News, Greensburg, IN

November 21, 2011

DCCS board examines ongoing construction

Robert Cox Jr.
Greensburg Daily News

Greensburg — The Decatur County Community Schools board recently held a work session to discuss the school system's ongoing construction and renovation projects.

Architect Hal E. Kovert, of Kovert Hawkins Architects, updated the board on projects 1 through 8.

Projects 1 and 2, Kovert said, are ninety-nine and ninety-four percent complete, respectively.

The two projects mirror each other, with 1 undertaken at North Decatur Jr./Sr. High School by Runnebohm Construction and 2 undertaken at South Decatur Jr./Sr. High School by Nading Mechanical.

Project 1 is scheduled for completion by Dec. 1, and project 2 by Dec. 15.

The final balancing of heating and cooling systems at both schools is at different stages, with North nearer to completion. Because both new chiller warranties begin at startup, neither will be started until April 2012, saving six months warranty time for both units.

Projects 3 and 4, at North and South Decatur Elementary Schools, respectively, Kovert reported, are ninety-six percent and ninety-three percent complete, respectively.

Both projects are scheduled for completion by Dec. 1. Project 3 is being performed by Runnebohm and project 4 by Poole Group.

Both schools await final balancing of heating and cooling systems. As with projects 1 and 2, the new chiller units installed at both schools won't be started until April 2012, again saving six months warranty time.

Project 5, undertaken at North Decatur Jr./Sr. High School by Ferguson Construction, is fifty percent complete; project 6, undertaken at South Decatur Jr./Sr. High School, also by Ferguson, is fifty percent complete. Project 5, according to Kovert, is the most active of all current projects.

Project 5 is scheduled for completion by Jan. 1, 2012; project 6 is scheduled for completion by Feb. 1, 2012.

Regarding the two projects, Kovert explained that the entranceway towers being built look taller now than they will when completed.

"Completion of the projects," he said, "will give the towers a better sense of scale, and they won't seem so tall."

Kovert affirmed that the towers were no taller than originally planned. He also explained that glass will be added around the top of each tower in lieu of skylights.

Extending the cores, Kovert further explained, and using glass like an additional wall, will be far less problematic than skylights.

"The glass will also work as solar collectors," Kovert said, "bringing in direct sunlight and saving on heating bills."

At their regular meeting on Nov. 9, the board named Poole the winning bidder for project 7 at North Decatur High School.

The board named Crane, Inc., the winning bidder for project 8 at South Decatur High School.

Neither project has started, but both are projected for completion by July 1, 2012. Additionally, the contracts for both projects have been sent for signature to their respective contractors.

Projects 7 and 8 will each add significant classroom and lab space at each of their respective schools, as well new bleachers, comprising more than 800 seats apiece.

The board members expressed belief that wireless communications will better prepare all schools in the system for the future demands of education. They also expressed optimism that the completion of windows and doors through ongoing construction projects will help solve heating and cooling issues.

The board was in agreement that that projects 7 and 8 are extremely important to their respective high schools and that it's important to work with and focus on taking care of current buildings. They also found common ground in the importance of finding ways to cut costs and to reassure and form partnerships with the community.