New High School Not Ready For Students Building Expected To Be Ready By Sept. 6

Tile by trim, oak bannister by concrete block, and toilet by fire sprinkler, Lake City High School is gradually getting approved for occupancy.

But not until the massive structure is complete will students cross its threshold, said Rick Ulveling, state building inspector.

Now, certain areas of the building have temporary state certificates of occupancy - for adults only.

On Monday, school officials applied for eight more certificates to cover various areas of the building, including the gymnasium. Girls volleyball practice is scheduled to start soon.

“I told them at the start of this I wouldn’t allow any students in the school until it’s completely finished,” Ulveling said. “Any time you have any construction anywhere, you have to be very careful.”

Today, workers will test the fire alarm system, after which principal John Brumley had hoped to allow students in for special activities, he said.

“There’s a lot of things that have to be approved besides an alarm system,” Ulveling said. “That school has to be completely functional before I let any kids in.”

According to the original schedule, the district was to have its certificate of occupancy by Aug. 1. But construction delays, such as rain and an unforeseen problem with the electrical installation, intervened.

School officials still have no doubts, however, that everything will be ready by the time school starts Sept. 6.

On Monday, Brumley was continuing a step-by-step inspection with Scott Fischer of Architects West and Charlie Beverly, the contractor’s project manager, in the commons area restrooms.

Fischer had blueprints spread on the floor to refer to as he and Brumley flushed toilets, pointed out door frames that needed to be repainted and asked Beverly to remove little mortar “boogers” from the wall with his putty knife.

“You missed the biggest boo-boo, John,” Fischer teased. “I thought I trained you better than that.”

Brumley looked down, searching for defective tiles on the floor under the huge, half-moon sinks.

“Mirrors, mirrors! There are no mir rors,” Fischer said.

“We’re working on that,” reassured Beverly.

“I didn’t notice because I’m just not as vain as you are,” Brumley teased back.

After the restrooms, the team moved to classrooms on the second floor. In the already-approved firstfloor classrooms, workers were busy unpacking new desks and lining them up in rows.

At the other end of the building, art teacher Don Haus was hauling equipment and supplies out of a trailer and into the two art classrooms.

He was moving in a little later than expected, but that’s not because the construction workers were slacking off, he said.

“Everybody I see, they’re doing something,” he said. “They’re moving. They’re pressing” to finish the job.

Haus energetically showed off the custom-built rooms with special vents for air-brush artwork, a kiln, clay traps for every sink, a darkroom, ample storage and a patio area immediately outside. As a member of the school’s design committee, Haus exudes pride of ownership.

“The old high school was sort of hodgepodged together,” Haus said. “Here, I can see the mark of my input.”