The Mayor's Desk: Readying schools for a new year

For

nearly three months, Gloucester public school students have enjoyed a summer filled with fun, adventure, and quality time with friends and family.

As summer brought joy to our children, it also gave the city?s Department of Public Works, in particular the facilities department under the direction of Jim Hafey, an opportunity to clean and refurbish our educational facilities.

This important work may not be glamorous, but for the city?s 3,400 students, the importance of returning to schools that have been scrubbed and overhauled cannot be understated. The hard work of our dedicated maintenance and custodial staffs gives kids the opportunity to start the year fresh and focused on education.

Thanks to the excellent effort this summer, we are able to showcase our ongoing commitment to upgrading vital infrastructure whether it be the water system or a school building. I am very pleased to report that the summertime work, undertaken by an array of skilled tradesmen and tradeswomen, maintenance staff, custodians, and professional outside contractors, improved every one of the city?s seven schools.

At Gloucester High School, workers completed an overhaul of the duct and exhaust systems, cleaning ducts, upgrading pneumatic controls, upgrading generators, and fixing exhaust fans at the Benjamin A. Smith Field House. The school?s auditorium also received an overhaul, including new lights, ceiling tiles and painting, which will benefit audiences and performers alike. Automotive shop students also will notice improvements and modifications as will those using the lecture hall.

The O?Maley Middle School benefited from the painting of several classrooms and hallways, new or repaired flooring, and replacement of glass doors that needed repair. The crew also fixed a persistent leak in the masonry in the first floor hallway, which will end chronic moisture issues that impacted faculty and students alike.

Our elementary schools also received important upgrades, including new wiring for the computer center and library at Veteran?s Memorial, septic line repairs and installation of a new transformer at Plum Cove Elementary School, installation of a new generator at Beeman Elementary School, repair of exhaust fans at West Parish Elementary School (a project 12 years in the making) and retooling of the ventilation system at East Gloucester Elementary School.

Improvements and upgrades are not the only changes students and faculty will notice at city schools.

A new team of full-time custodians will begin work this fall at Plum Cove, Beeman, West Parish and Gloucester High School.

Gloucester Public Schools are dedicated to providing the community with a system that meets the academic, physical, social, and emotional developmental needs of every student. To accomplish this, physical plant investments must take place with regularity. This is happening now more than ever before under the direction of the city?s Department of Public Works.

The community expects students to embrace responsibility for their own learning as they mature.

It is therefore equally important that the community reliably invest in the school facilities so our teachers and administrators can foster a vibrant learning community throughout the

year.

Carolyn Kirk is mayor of the city of Gloucester

Source: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/opinion/x1011133680/The-Mayors-Desk-Readying-schools-for-a-new-year

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