CURRENT ELEMENTARY BUILDING ISSUES AND CONCERNS
Drop-Off and Pick -Up Location – the location of the drop-off and pick-up areas are a safety concern for students and parents and the morning drop off blocks and/or disrupts the traffic on Slabtown Road.
Parking – there is not enough parking for volunteers and aides or afterschool events, the buses block parking area in the afternoon, causing a safety issue for students and parents, and an inability to leave or enter the building between 2:00pm – 2:25pm.
Bus Annex (Two Classrooms, Music Room, Library, and a Special Education Room) – all classrooms are not located in the elementary building causing safety concerns for students walking between buildings and loss of instruction time.
Handicap Accessibility – the elementary building is not handicap accessible from the front, second floor is only accessible by stairs, and the lunch line is not handicap accessible either.
Classrooms – there is a lack of classroom space, because of this, grade levels not located together. There are large cracks in walls constantly needing repair, large cracks in the floors and uneven floors (students and teachers have fallen). Due to the uneven floors, some areas are not unusable to put student desks.
Floors - the uneven floors in the north end hallway has caused both students and teachers to fall. The uneven floor makes it difficult to maneuver handicap equipment as well.
Bus Garage – the bus garage is located too close to the elementary building, causing safety concerns for children and parents moving between buildings and the possibility of fumes from buses infiltrating classrooms.
Security – the visitor entrance which is open during school hours is not located near elementary office causing a safety concern.
Heating /Air Conditioning – the elementary is heated with two different types of (old) heating units which constantly need repair. There is overheating in some areas located over the boiler and loud noises from pipes disturbing classrooms. There is no air conditioning. This makes for an undesirable learning situation.
Windows – there are no screens in the windows so when windows are open it allows bugs, bees, and wasps to enter the classroom. The rooms are very hot in August, September and May. There are some insulated panels that need replacement. Some of the windows are foggy and leak.
Electricity – there is a lack of outlets to support new technology. Breakers overload due to the lack of capacity, blowing fuses. A fan is used to blow cool air on the unit to keep it from overheating. Causing safety and instruction concerns.
Energy – the current building is not energy efficient, costing more to operate.
Roof – the roof needs to be replaced. Repairs are constantly being made to the roof and the Roof Cap has to be continually covered with Aluminum. A leaking roof causes moldy panels which then have to be replaced.
Brick Exterior – the brick needs tuck pointed and sealed.
Lighting – all lighting (classrooms and hallways) needs to be upgraded.
Gym – the gym is very small and can’t handle the entire student body at one time for assemblies. The stairwells, bleacher steps and bleachers need some attention. Students must cross the road to use the high school gym.
Stage – the stage is located in the cafeteria which is not an effective location for assemblies or programs. To attend programs, students must cross the street to go to the high school auditorium.
Storage – there is a lack of storage in classrooms for hands-on learning materials. Storage containers are kept on the floors, under computers, and tables. There is no storage area for extra furniture, maintenance/custodial supplies, or office supplies.
Kindergarten Classrooms – some of the kindergarten rooms do not have a sink or bathroom located in the classroom.
Student Restrooms – student restrooms are not situated together which causes monitoring difficulties. There are no restrooms in the bus annex; children must go as a group to the elementary building to use the restroom, which is a safety issue and causes lost instruction time.
Adult Restrooms – there is only one “toilet” on the first floor and one “toilet” on the second floor for adult use. The toilet on the second floor is located in the room used for tutoring/testing. The lack of adult facilities and locations has adults using child facilities.
Lockers – lockers are falling apart and some do not close properly due to shifting of walls and floors.
Teacher Work Area – there is only one teacher work area, located on the first floor.
Sidewalks – sidewalks are not level and in need of repair.
Loading Dock – there is no loading dock for supply deliveries. There is a safety issue with deliveries being made between the bus annex and elementary building where students walk between buildings.
Cafeteria – the current cafeteria is not designed efficiently (single serving line, congestion in hallway, and proximity of ovens are too close to students). There is a lack of cooking space, food storage space, and electrical capacity (milk cooler is located in the hallway, food stored in basement, no space for washer and dryer, and breakers trip on serving line). Dumpsters and garbage pick-up are located near student playground. There are no facilities for the kitchen staff.
Basement – the basement dry storage area at certain times of the year has moisture problems.