WATERVILLE — The Albert S. Corridor College is within the ultimate phases of a $1.59 million renovation venture that included changing all home windows and exterior doorways, important entryways and the boiler system within the practically 102-year-old constructing.
Waterville Faculties Superintendent Peter Hallen stated Thursday that when the unique plan fell via in 2021 to construct an addition to Waterville Junior Excessive College on West River Highway that may be the brand new Albert S. Corridor College, it grew to become essential to renovate the present Corridor College on Nice Road.
About $6 million was accessible from federal American Rescue Plan Act cash to construct the brand new faculty, which might have more room for required social distancing through the coronavirus pandemic, however there was a scarcity of fabric and labor, and the price for them skyrocketed, greater than doubling that determine to about $13 million.
“We realized we have been going to be within the Corridor College for at the very least the foreseeable future,” Hallen stated.
Renovation work began in June on the faculty when youngsters left for the summer time. Safety measures grew to become a precedence due to vandalism after hours outdoors the college, so a digicam system was put in, in accordance with Hallen. The entryways to the college have been gutted, outdated picket doorways that heaved at sure occasions of the yr and wouldn’t latch correctly have been eliminated, and the entryways made safer and extra environment friendly, he stated.
All of the home windows and frames have been changed within the constructing, and two boilers added within the basement. Hallen stated that with the outdated system, one may set the temperature at a snug degree however that temperature could be decrease in different components of the constructing. One other plan within the works is to make sure there’s an air-conditioned house within the constructing and that may doubtless be within the cafeteria, which additionally serves because the auditorium.
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“We’re speaking with totally different teams that present grants for local weather resilience as a result of the Corridor College is the one faculty constructing that doesn’t have any air-conditioned house,” Hallen stated.
A brick wall outdoors the college was repaired as a part of the work. Past that, some beauty work will likely be achieved, comparable to changing tiles in a number of the rooms, in accordance with Hallen.
“It’s fairly outstanding how properly the constructing has held up,” he stated.
The three-story faculty serves about 250 fourth and fifth graders and employs 49 academics, custodial workers and meals service employees, together with a number of who work in different buildings as properly, in accordance with Hallen.
He stated that when the college was constructed, youngsters walked to high school, so not numerous parking house was wanted and there stays minimal house. Daily, parking shouldn’t be a problem, but when there’s an occasion attended by mother and father and workers, they need to park on the road, he stated.
Longtime Waterville Public Faculties worker Sarah St. Pierre took over as Corridor College principal this yr and was on web site for the work over the summer time. St. Pierre, 48, of Sidney, stated the renovations make an enormous distinction and the brand new home windows let in additional gentle and are extra environment friendly. The 2 boilers are twin gasoline and should use oil or pure gasoline, she stated.
St. Pierre began working for Waterville Public Faculties as grownup training secretary, then labored as an training technician at Waterville Senior Excessive College, and later was a particular training instructor. She labored in different training on the junior excessive and have become a social research instructor and chairman of the division there. Final yr she labored as dean of scholars for Maranacook Space Faculties, however selected to return to Waterville.
“I’m thrilled to be again in Waterville the place my profession in training began,” St. Pierre stated. “That is like residence to me.”
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