Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The Colfax school security and capital improvements that passed as part of April’s $250,000 levy will go out for bid this Thursday or Friday, according to district Superintendent Michael Morgan.
The work will include remodeling the main entrance and office of Jennings Elementary, installing steel doors and electronic locks and adding security cameras.
Morgan said the project will be done in four phases, starting with the Jennings office, then the installation of a new doorway in a hallway linking the two elementary school gyms, followed by exterior doors, then electronics and finally, security cameras.
“Our goal right now is to have the interior of the (Jennings) office completed by Aug. 15,” Morgan said.
One concern he has is for the eight sets of new steel doors, which require frames to be built for them. Morgan was told by various potential contractors that there would be an eight-week delay to get the frames, because of the high summer construction season.
“There’s not a lot of companies that just build frames,” said Morgan.
Supt. Morgan said he and JES Principal Tom Arlt have discussed a plan to rope off construction areas in the event the project cannot be finished before the start of school.
Construction during Christmas break is another option, Morgan said.
The doors to be replaced are all on the west side of the Jennings building, with one door on the city pool side of the gym, along with the recess door at the back of the school.
For the added doors linking a hallway between the gyms, there will be a set of wooden double doors, so no special frame is required.
The new hallway link would be for security purposes, allowing people to walk between the two gyms without having to go outside.
Morgan indicated decisions have to be made regarding the type and amount of security cameras that can be installed with the amount of funds available on the levy.
“We’ll probably get three for the high school, and five for the elementary,” he said.
Two were bought and put in place last year at the high school with other funds.
Morgan said the estimated costs for the project are the same outlined in the levy proposal.
“We just don’t know until the bid is accepted and the contractor places the order. We’re excited about getting the construction project done; it just takes time,” he said, citing decisions that had to be made since the levy passed as far as which electronic lock system will be used with the new doors.
Built in 1953, Jennings Elementary was remodeled in 1992, when changes were made to exterior walls, classroom space was added and heating/venting systems were enhanced along with roof design.
Jennings’ new doors will all open electronically at scheduled times such as recess and for physical education classes.
All school doors can and still would be able to be exited at any time.
At the high school, electronic locks will be installed at the south end by the agriculture shop, at the north end by the gym and at the front entrance.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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