THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 18, 1994 TAG: 9409160265
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
SCHOOL OPENED at Carver Intermediate on Monday, three days late but without incident, officials said.
``You know you have a little bit of chaos the first week anyway, with kids not knowing where their classes are or who their teachers are,'' said Principal Raymond Hopkins. ``But we got it ironed out within the first 45 minutes or so.''
Carver's opening was delayed because of snags in extensive renovations to the 1950s-era building. Other city students began classes Sept. 7.
Work began in mid-May to install air conditioning and replace the building's antiquated windows with smaller, more energy-efficient ones. The project also included new lighting, doors and door-frames throughout the school, a new teachers' lounge and an overhaul of the office and student bathrooms.
Work was supposed to be mostly finished by the time school opened, and completed by October. The Norfolk-based contractor, however, had difficulty getting supplies because distributors were backed up with other orders.
Consequently, teachers could not get into the building in time to set up their classrooms before Sept. 7.
Work continues. Inside classrooms, black paper covers the spaces where old windows used to be. Dry wall covers holes cut into the brick walls for air conditioning units yet to be installed.
Work will be done over weekends and at night. If necessary, class groups will be rotated to other rooms through the fall while workers install windows and air conditioners.
``The kids have been real good, and the workers have been real protective of the kids, making sure they're not in the way,'' Hopkins said.
One student wrote a letter that she liked her school because construction workers were on the roof, Hopkins said.
``I think the kids think it's neat,'' he said.
The project now is expected to be finished by mid-November.
Meanwhile, students will make up the three days they missed by starting classes several minutes earlier and ending classes a few minutes later every day this year.
``So far, everything's worked out real well, and I'm crossing my fingers that everything continues that way,'' Hopkins said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Students wait in line for a trip to the water fountain while
construction workers check out the hallway ceiling at Carver
Intermediate School. The 1950s-era building has been undergoing
extensive renovations.
by CNB