Aug. 13, 2006 – Students and faculty will meet a newly reconstructed John H. Woodson School when they return for the fall semester. Crews have been working during the summer to eradicate the mold that's plagued the school, pulling out and replacing air conditioning ducts and mold infested ceiling tiles and walls.
In many of the classrooms and administration offices, flooring is being replaced, as well as cabinets, counters and room dividers. The computer lab, which was infested with the highest count of mold spores, was gutted and completely reconstructed with a new computer table, new air conditioning system, overhead fans and new computer technology.
"I am very, very pleased," said Woodson Principal Vaughn Hewitt. "Just about all the problems we had are being addressed." Hewitt said the construction was done with the input of staff and teachers who were able to have a say in how their classrooms were designed.
The roof has been sealed against water seepage and all the gutters and drains have been unclogged and replaced. The air quality test was received two weeks ago, and according to Education Commissioner Noreen Michael, all the mold issues have been addressed.
The parking lot is a far cry from its prior dilapidated condition. The potholes have been replaced with a smooth asphalt surface and painted with precise yellow parking lines.
The most visible improvement is the swale running the length of the lot to divert runoff water after heavy rains. Engineers reconstructed the lot so it is graded away from the building to alleviate flooding. Two steel walkways with handrails give students and faculty safe passage over the swale.
The improvements were highlighted on a recent walkthrough of the facility by Education Department officials who were assisted by the engineers and contractors assigned to the school. Michael said she was very encouraged by the progress of the school and assured parents and students their school would be ready for occupancy at the start of the school year.
A few projects at Woodson will be ongoing, however. Although the cafeteria is getting a facelift, the adjacent auditorium will be closed this school year. "The unforeseen problems were bigger than we anticipated," said contractor Derek Attwell. The reconstruction of the auditorium includes replacing the seats, replacing the walls and restoring the stage, and is expected to be completed by December.
"Barring any major disasters we will welcome the students and faculty back to Woodson," said Michael.
Woodson was closed in September after teachers complained about the persistent mold conditions, which some of them said was making them and the students ill. The conditions at the school were tested, and the facility was closed. The school's 700 students were reassigned to Elena Christian Junior High School and were placed on double sessions.
Education officials visited three schools Friday as part of ongoing inspections of the progress of the summer maintenance program. Michael said this was her third visit to Woodson this summer.
Eulalie Rivera Professional Development School and Elena Christian Junior High School were also visited. Former Rivera principal Jewel Ross Brathwaite, who is now deputy superintendent, proudly showed off the school's improvements – including a new freezer, industrial oven and kettle steamer for the kitchen.
Brathwaite said the school, which had been previously plagued by constant break-ins, is now equipped with 26 cameras. She said vandals targeted the kindergarten and first-grade classroom windows which are located closest to the open bush area on the west side of the school.
Brathwaite said 14 windows had been replaced. Improvements were also made to the kindergarten play area.
"Since the security cameras are here there has been no more damage to the school," Brathwaite said. "Nobody wants to be on the cameras."
There are still some issues that need to be addressed at the Grove Place Elementary School, explained Brathwaite, saying that renovations to the sports area and perimeter fencing will be addressed during the school year with capital improvement funds.
At Elena Christian Junior High School improvements have been made to the electric and water systems. The lighting at the school was a topic of controversy recently when the school was plunged into darkness for several days in late July. The problem was corrected by teams from the Water and Power Authority and the school's contractor.
The school is still waiting for specially made steel doors to replace the aging, dilapidated units which are in the passageway to the gymnasium. Several of the present doors are hanging off their hinges and have extensive rust deterioration.
School officials expect the doors to be delivered two weeks after the start of school.
The Board of Education recently released its 2006 report on the state of V.I. schools, which detailed deficiencies found in the territory's schools. (See "Crumbling, Neglected Schools a Major Concern in Board of Education Report").
"We are going to systematically go through the report," Michael said. The commissioner said "it would be helpful" if the Board submitted its report before the beginning of summer so it could be used as a guide for repairs.
The department has hired Caribbean Systems to prepare a maintenance plan for all the public schools, according to Gustave James, company president. He said a digital plot plan and inventorying of all the schools has begun.
All the schools will be repainted when reconstruction is completed. And during the inspections, Commissioner Michael repeated several times that graffiti is a big problem in the schools. She sent a plea to parents and students to take care of the schools.
"Parents, tell your children to respect their schools," said Michael
Final inspections of the territory's schools will take place Aug. 21 -25, the commissioner said.
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