By: Brook D. Curtiss - Publisher
The Plainview Board of Education recently ordered a facility review through an architectural firm to consider mainly the “old” Junior High building that has stood for 120 years in the southeast corner of the school footprint.
Beginning a number of years ago, a slight “sag” in the flooring in the third floor was noticed, along with the boiler and radiator heat, outdated bathrooms, plaster walls, blackboards, now 20-year old “new” windows, and a host of issues, notwithstanding functionality and handicap access to other floors.
The topic has been discussed at length for the last 10 years at least, off and on with minor repairs being done internally to help keep students safe and most of the classrooms still operational, until this year.
It may have been the exceptionally dry conditions, perhaps the high winds, maybe even the large storm two years ago now that happened, or even the thousands of footsteps that walked the building over the last 100-some years – but something on the third floor caused the major floor joists on the southeast and southwest corners of the building to become dislodged from their long-standing locations.
While the school administration and Board have been informed that there is no danger to students or staff from the slight “sag” – it again brought the topic to light, prompting a serious review of the building, and what could be done to repair, replace or even demolish the current structure and build new.
All discussions are on the table as the Board begins to gather information, starting with the architectural firm, which should have the review done in the next few months.
At the time the study is finished, there will be a number of public meetings to review the results with the community, and continue the conversation with the Board of Education about which direction the “stakeholders” of the community would like to proceed.
Nothing has been decided, but there is a decision on the horizon, and the Board has made steps to gather information to make that decision when it becomes necessary.
Along the southern edges of the third floor the flooring has dropped a noticeable 3-4 inches from where it was originally installed, pulling the wood floors down, and putting strain on the structure, plumbing, and walls.
Dr. Darron Arlt, while providing the News a tour, said that the architect said that the outer shell of the building shows no cracks or issues, so the current issue is likely contained to just the flooring on the third floor.
Those classrooms have been decommissioned for a few years, from when the original issue was noticed, but also for being outdated and a little smaller class sizes.
Currently, of the eight total classrooms available in the “Junior High,” there are five being utilized – including the wrestling room renovation that was completed more than a decade ago, and old gym in the ‘basement.’
The “new” old windows, new HVAC systems, the large metal fire escape on the east side, concrete out front that was redone after a sinkhole opened up, and new doors on the south side have all been done piecemeal over the last 20-30 years.
Originally, the building had a mirrored “twin” across the pavilion area to the west. That building, originally serving as the junior high (and the current building was the “High School” – was demolished to make way for the current high school addition in 1977.
Plans are currently scheduled for before April to have the study in hand and hold the community meetings to review the status of the current building.