JCHS Gets “ALL CLEAR” from Engineers
Jefferson County High School has been cleared for students and staff, according to information provided by Jefferson County School’s Director of Business Affairs, Michael Phagan, Monday morning, August 5, 2013. Phagan stated that the building had been cleared for occupation on Saturday, August 3, 2013, after viewing by both a structural engineer and Architect from the Lewis Group. Students may notice the addition of poles in various areas of the school, which were added at the suggestion of the structural engineer, to provide increased safety. Building 8 will remain closed to students and staff for the school year, however teachers previously located in Building 8 were allowed into their classrooms Monday morning to gather items. Phagan stated that the school is safer today than it was when school closed last May, due to precautions that are being taken to insure student and staff safety. Teachers were held in the Commons Area of the school last week, however that was a precautionary measure according to Phagan.
Some changes have been made to avoid student contact with construction areas. Students that are driving will enter the school in the area between Pods 1 and 2, rather than through the Commons Area. Parking for students will be accessed through the first gate to the school off of West Dumplin Valley Road. No traffic will be filtered into the school through the 2nd school gate and students only will use the first gate to enter the school. Parents dropping off students will enter the school from Hwy 92, near the entrance to Building 8. A new circular drive will allow parents to drop students off in the rear of the main building and circle out onto West Dumplin Valley Road. Parents and other visitors to the school (other than before school traffic) will enter from Hwy 92 and circle to the back of the building for visitor parking and entrance. School day visitors will exit the school by retracing the new road to Hwy 92. The circular drive around the school will only be open for drop off and pick up for safety reasons. Entry points will be clearly marked and additional student parking on the east side of the parking lot is expected to accommodate most student drivers. As in other years, parking is restricted to junior and senior drivers. Sophomores seeking a parking permit will require administrative override and must be a hardship case.
To further insure facility safety, the roof will be inspected bi weekly during construction and the roof will receive secondary drains and sloping during the renovation process. Phagan stated that Pod 4 will be ready for students on Thursday and extra shoring measures have been installed to insure safety in the area. The generator for the school was located in Building 8 and is necessary for school security lights during a black out. Currently, that issue is being addressed and will be compliant before the first day of school. The Football Field, which was undergoing irrigation installation last week, will be ready for the Patriots first snap later this month and the parking lot should accommodate home game traffic. Phagan said that some adjustments may need to occur as students and staff return to Jefferson County High School, however the Department of Education is ready and willing to make the accommodations needed to keep construction impact to a minimum during the renovation of JCHS. Students, Staff, Parents and Visitors are encouraged to remain flexible and patient, especially during the start of the new school year, as changes are made to fit the physical and educational needs of students. Though the process looks messy, Phagan and the Department of Education are confident that the end result will be worth the adjustments.
Traffic Map for JCHS AM
Traffic Map for JCHS PM
