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PUTNAM NEWS
Putnam schools spend summer working on $1M in special projects
WINFIELD, W.Va. -- Though summer meant time off for the kids, Putnam County Schools spent the break working on close to $1 million in special projects in addition to other scheduled repairs and improvements.
Brad Hodges, Putnam Schools Director of Administrative Services said that special projects this year were quite large in comparison to years past with some $850,000 in excess levy funds spent above and beyond the cost of building the new Teays Valley Elementary School and general county renovations.
Bill Duncan, Putnam Schools Treasurer broke down the special projects' list which included $300,000 spent on roofing, sidewalk and paving work at $200,000 per project; $100,000 spent on the sealing of parking lots and the remaining $50,000 on a the replacement of a gymnasium floor.
Other work completed this summer included the installation of security cameras and door buzzers at all county schools along with a fencing project that is still underway. About $320,000 of the $400,000 in funds needed for this work came to the county in the form of a grant with Putnam Schools having to put up the remaining money, Duncan said.
Sam Housley, Putnam Schools maintenance supervisor, was responsible for leading the summer maintenance staff and keeping the projects on schedule. Hodges said that thanks to everyone's hard work, along with the efforts of contracted services, students and staff will both enjoy nicer learning environments this school year. Giving credit to all the crew accomplished this summer, Hodges added, "Those are the guys who really keep things running."
Additional work completed at locations throughout the county included restroom renovations at eight schools, the installation of new classroom lighting at one school, refurbishing lockers in four schools, replacement of some floor tile in 17 schools, new bleacher tops in all middle and high schools, new windows at one school, numerous HVAC repairs, painting at four schools, carpets cleaned in all schools along with the construction of a school storage building. Some portable classrooms were also relocated to another school.
In spite of so much time and effort spent, "Things were still left unattended after all that work," Duncan said. "But you have to look at the worst areas, and the money you have, and go from there."
