Columbia Central Renovations On Schedule!

Looking out at the green grass, it is hard to believe that just one week ago it was covered with snow.  Just as the snow has been quickly melting over the past couple weeks, the construction workers have been rapidly honing in on the finishing touches in the south wing of Columbia Central.  The final painting has been finished, the ceiling grid is in place and the ceiling tiles and lights are going into the grid.  It is amazing to see how quickly the floor tile is going down getting the area ready for many eager feet!

It has been interesting to watch the masonry workers as they have placed the cement blocks to form walls, filled in around the new windows and doors with bricks, and carefully constructed the brick veneer on the entry ways.   Since the beginning of March, the glass company has been installing doors and windows.  It is amazing to see the daylight stream in through the new windows. 

The project is scheduled to be substantially complete on April 1^st so that the new furniture will be delivered and installed so that the seventh and eighth grade students may move in on April 6^th.  Our seventh and eighth grade students will be asked to arrive at Columbia Middle School on April 6^th, meet with their teachers, and then board buses that will transport them and their teachers to Columbia Central.  Once there the students will move into their new classrooms in the south wing of Columbia Central, where ten regular classrooms and two resource rooms await.

In addition to the seventh and eighth grade students moving to Columbia Central, the third and fourth grade students will move across the street to Columbia Middle School into some of the rooms vacated by the seventh and eighth grade students.  The moves are happening this spring to make room for construction crews to begin working on the north wing of Columbia Elementary School (where the third and fourth grade classrooms currently are located) and in the south side of the northeast wing of Columbia Middle School. 

The work on the elementary and middle school will take place during second shift so it will not interrupt the teaching and learning environment.  The construction crews at Columbia Central will move over to the northwest hallway to begin the renovations on the band and choir rooms, along with the psychology classroom.  This spring’s work at the three buildings will help facilitate an on time finish of the projects at the end of August so we will be able to begin school on Tuesday, September 8^th.

These times are exciting at Columbia School District, watching the improvements and renovations that will result in a positive impact on our teaching and learning environment.  We have dynamic teachers, nurturing staff members, wonderful administrators and terrific students and now we will have the best learning environments in the area with upgraded technology, new heating and air conditioning systems, fresh paint, energy efficient lighting, air tight windows and doors, updated flooring, and safety minded secure entry vestibules.  For a look at the updates as they happen, “Like” the Columbia School District Facebook page or sign up for my Twitter feed by going to the www.myeagles.org  page and clicking on the Twitter symbol.  If you have any questions about the programs and opportunities at Columbia School District, email me at pamela.campbell@myeagles.org or call me at 5175926641.