The School!
Paulette Elementary
Week 35
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In
the video to the left you find the grade work being completed for the
entrance to Paulette Elementary. In the video a white car enters the
site. This car is Director Goforth, Jason Bailey and Glen Coppock. |
 Change orders or
the sky is falling call it what you want. I pick up the paper and find
more change orders are coming. Oh my, this must be something terrible.
Articles include lines like "Change Orders Abound" and "School Board
clogged with change orders." It sounds terrible!I write these posts about every two weeks to keep citizens, the school board and county court up to date with the building process. I write an article about every ten days or more often if something big is going on. There haven't been any really big things that were not planned for. The only exception could be the sewer not being ready. County Mayor Mike Williams attended the last Paulette meeting (Figure 1) and assured those in attendance that the sewer would be completed before the school is finished. This is an example of two branches of the government working together. But what are change orders? A change order is defined as: Work that is added to or deleted from the original scope of work of a contract, which alters the original contract or drawing, terms, amount or completion date.  If
the project is completed a day early that is a change order. If the
bathroom tile is put in a week later than planned that is a change
order. Recently Mr. Bailey noticed that the white boards being
installed in the kindergarten rooms were a bit too high for the little
children he asked that they be lowered six inches. That was a change
order.A few weeks later the school system decided that they would rather have the playground behind the school than beside it. It seems this would be a very simple thing and in fact cost no more money. While it didn't cost any more the contract called for the playground at the end. To move it to the back was a change to the contract and a change order had to be made. Some change orders do cost money, but others save money. If the contract calls for a wire to be pulled at a cost of $20,000 the school can say, "we can pull it for $20." They do the work themselves and save $20,0000 that is again a change order. The newspaper has done a pretty good job reporting on this. But that doesn't keep a few folks from saying, "look at all those change orders something must be wrong!" But if they look closely at the last one it changed the location of an AC receptical six inches.  The
biggest concern right now is the sewer, everything else seems to be
right on track. With the commitment exhibited by the leadership of the
Mayor I feel this may turn into a non-issue.This week more class rooms have been completed. In fact the painting has begun in the gym and gives us our first real look at the color scheme. If you look at (Figure 2) you can see the stage facing the gym area. You can see the purple, yellow and white striping going in. The gym will also feature several murals depicting the spirit of the new school. (Figure 3) shows Mr. Beeler of Rouse Construction going over some of the features recently installed in the new lunch preparation area. The gentleman with him is from Michael Brady and Associates. The lunch prep area will be ultra modern with many of the manual functions of other schools automated here. Each appliance and cooler is placed to eliminate steps by workers. In fact, this kitchen could be staffed by fewer employees than any other school at a great savings to our tax dollars.  The hood shown in the ceiling is a draft hood that will carry all smells and odors out through the roof. The room will feature an air return system that will keep the kitchen filtered and cool for the employees. Also the hood functions as a fire barrier. Should a grease fire erupt the hood will contain it and appliances inside the hood will turn on and suppress the flames. And from the kitchen the last picture comes from inside the girl's common restroom (Figure 4). This is the restroom in the hall separate from the ones found in the rooms. The tiles are slate gray on the wall, and the stall enclosures are colored to match. The texture of the stall walls is such that it can't be written on. These restrooms will serve several purposes during school but also one important one afterwards. During ballgames these restrooms will be used by the public. They are designed such that they can be segregated from the rest of the schools. This will allow the public to utilize the school for ballgames using no more than the gym and  two bathrooms. The rest of the school will not be touched.It is quite possible that at one end of the school a ballgame will be going on and at the other end a teacher can tutor children after school unbothered. For example there will be music programs presented at night by Music Director Robert McKenzie. Mr. McKenzie can get his stage ready and then seclude it from the rest of the school. While the program is going on, maintenance can be carried out elsewhere without interrupting the program. Much like the original concept of this school everything is being built and installed with an eye to the future. Even the location of the school has the future in mind. There were easier places in the county to build, without a doubt. But building a school isn't just for the immediate needs of the county. When a school is built it must be built for the future. There is little doubt that growth in the county will come from the south. Halls and Knox County have been expanding this way for years. Ever wonder why Walmart moved back where they did in Halls? How many people have I heard ask, why did they move back there? Walmart is banking that the four lane installed from I-75 to Halls will become the main road. Maynardville HWY. from Fountain City to Halls will become the "old road." The four lane will continue past Walmart and move northward into Union County. We are not talking about years here either. It is going to happen fast. How many years ago was there nothing on Lovell Road? Ever been to Turkey Creek during the Christmas holidays? I am proud to say that change is coming to the lower end of the county and this new school is leading the way! |
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