The School!
Paulette Elementary
Article 36
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 I
want to take a minute to comment on Commissioner Doyle Welch. Doyle has
been a friend of mine since our High School days. We often disagree on
one issue or another. But even when we disagree we argue but remain
friends.This week I was surprised to find Doyle at the weekly Paulette meeting. I have to say I was impressed. e toured the building with us as Mr. Jason pointed out things to him. At the meeting the issue turned toward how we could do the sewer lines and not hold up the asphalt crews. It would be a shame to put down some new asphalt only to have it cut by the sewer people when they get to us. During the discussion Commissioner Welch offered what I considered a very logical suggestion. In (Image 1) you can see Commissioner Welch examining the new floor in the kitchen area.  His
suggestion was to hire a company to go ahead and bury the sewer line
from the building to off the asphalt area. He then wondered if we could
do that and actually save some money off the sewer price. I don't know
how that will turn out, but it seemed very logical to me.I hope more Commissioners continue offering input on the project. here are several that have. This goes for the public as well. Sometimes an outside prospective is very useful. I know our board, chairman and Director would welcome it. This is after all a community project. The next thing I would like to discuss are the expectations of the new Principal. His expectation is that Paulette look as new five years from now as the day it first opens. This is a lofty goal to me. I have a certain amount of pity for the first student to write on his bathroom wall. While walking through the school this week I saw him lift a metal table and slide a piece of cardboard under it. I didn't ask but I am sure it was to make sure the metal didn't scratch the new floor. In (Image 2) you can find an area where the purple from one room will meet the blue of the room next to it. This is in the alcove that  both
rooms share. The purple trim tile from one room also meets the blue
trim tile of the next room. Do you see anything odd about it? I didn't
until Mr. Jason pointed at it and proclaimed, "that isn't going to
work." The young man has an attention to detail that will serve the
taxpayers of Union County well. All too often in the past we have built
court houses, community buildings and yes even schools only to not take
care of them. For once the building of a new school won't stop with the
last block laid, but will continue forward after it is occupied. To do
this we must have someone to oversee the operation who will not only
respond to issue but take steps to prevent them in the beginning. I
honestly feel Mr. Jason is the right fit for this."A new School...A New Way" This is Mr. Jason's unofficial motto. I know he means it to relate to students and the learning process. But I feel with his attitude and attention to detail it also relates to the building itself. We are building something new and we intend to take care of it afterward. That is a new way also, considering the conditions public buildings have fallen into in our county. Several new things have been installed in the school this week. One that I find most interesting is the heat and air for the gym. Image 3 shows the ductwork for the ball court area. It is simply fabric and nothing more. When the air or heat comes on it inflates the fabric and distributes it evenly around the gym. But when it cycles off the fabric collapses closing off the duct work. This we are told will result in a 20% reduction  in heat loss fior that area in the winter. That is a substantial savings to the taxpayer.The material in the new ductwork (Ductsock) is permeable and 15% of the air will distribute through the fabric. The other 85% will be distributed evenly through tiny holes custom cut in the fabric. This allows the ductwork to distribute heat or air with no risk of condensation. When metal ductwork is used in this high of a span condensation happens. When condensation sits mold begins to grow. This material ducting prevents that and makes our kids more healthy! Through good planning, and putting the right people in place to people like Commissioner Welch and others giving input...We are on our way to having a top notch facility our county can be proud of for years to come. |
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