New Bert Raney Elementary principal Jodi Kennedy stands adorned in a red baseball cap, t-shirt and with sweat pants blotched with paint. In her right hand she holds a drill. On her face, a smile.
“I was told the worst thing you’ll ever have to deal with as a principal is a big construction project,” said the long time teacher and first time principal. “Well, here you go.”
On Thursday, Kennedy volunteered her time alongside a few dozen district teachers to paint rooms, erect desks, unpack trucks and undertake other odds and ends in an audacious effort to get Bert Raney in order in time for the opening day of school on September 7.
It’s a daunting affair, but steady progress is evident as the elementary school now looks less like a bomb has just gone off and more as if it had just suffered through a small earthquake.
The teachers, paraprofessionals and school janitors toiled away next to a plethora of workers from an array of construction outfits that are updating the school aesthetically and functionally. The retrofit is a part of the approximately $8.5 million health and safety improvement project that the Yellow Medicine East school board voted to initiate this past fall.
Bert Raney is the first to receive the new hot water heating, lighting, dehumidification and exhaust systems, which are expected to improve the air quality and energy efficiency of the building. Next summer, YME high school will receive the same enhancements.
“It’s really an upgrade,” said Kennedy. Cost savings in the first year alone will save the district $12,000.”
Elementary teacher Peggy Kvam says she can already see a difference in her room thanks to the new lighting.
“Before, there were spots I called the dead zones. If it was a sunny day it was not a problem, but if it was cloudy the students had to work somewhere else,” she said. “I'm in there now and it’s all bright with fresh paint and it’s beautiful.”
While the lighting and paint makes an immediate impact, the winter time is where she is expecting the greatest benefit. She said that poor airflow caused temperatures in her room to reach over 80 degrees at times, but the new ventilation system will allow her and her students to sit comfortably and breath easy whatever time of the season.
“I’m excited to be able to wear something besides just t-shirts,” she laughed.
The construction crews are expected to be finished, in large, this week. From here on out teachers, custodians and administration will be looking to thoroughly clean the facilities and unpack the classroom equipment, which has been stored in trailers.
“It’s amazing the difference that one day makes,” said Kvam. “I think the students will notice. I think they’ll like it.”
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New Bert Raney Elementary principal Jodi Kennedy stands adorned in a red baseball cap, t-shirt and with sweat pants blotched with paint. In her right hand she holds a drill. On her face, a smile.
“I was told the worst thing you’ll ever have to deal with as a principal is a big construction project,” said the long time teacher and first time principal. “Well, here you go.”
On Thursday, Kennedy volunteered her time alongside a few dozen district teachers to paint rooms, erect desks, unpack trucks and undertake other odds and ends in an audacious effort to get Bert Raney in order in time for the opening day of school on September 7.
It’s a daunting affair, but steady progress is evident as the elementary school now looks less like a bomb has just gone off and more as if it had just suffered through a small earthquake.
The teachers, paraprofessionals and school janitors toiled away next to a plethora of workers from an array of construction outfits that are updating the school aesthetically and functionally. The retrofit is a part of the approximately $8.5 million health and safety improvement project that the Yellow Medicine East school board voted to initiate this past fall.
Bert Raney is the first to receive the new hot water heating, lighting, dehumidification and exhaust systems, which are expected to improve the air quality and energy efficiency of the building. Next summer, YME high school will receive the same enhancements.
“It’s really an upgrade,” said Kennedy. Cost savings in the first year alone will save the district $12,000.”
Elementary teacher Peggy Kvam says she can already see a difference in her room thanks to the new lighting.
“Before, there were spots I called the dead zones. If it was a sunny day it was not a problem, but if it was cloudy the students had to work somewhere else,” she said. “I'm in there now and it’s all bright with fresh paint and it’s beautiful.”
While the lighting and paint makes an immediate impact, the winter time is where she is expecting the greatest benefit. She said that poor airflow caused temperatures in her room to reach over 80 degrees at times, but the new ventilation system will allow her and her students to sit comfortably and breath easy whatever time of the season.
“I’m excited to be able to wear something besides just t-shirts,” she laughed.
The construction crews are expected to be finished, in large, this week. From here on out teachers, custodians and administration will be looking to thoroughly clean the facilities and unpack the classroom equipment, which has been stored in trailers.
“It’s amazing the difference that one day makes,” said Kvam. “I think the students will notice. I think they’ll like it.”
