News
Construction Taking Place This Summer At Trimble Local Schools
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
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With the students now on summer break, construction work is taking place at the buildings in the Trimble Local School District.
Multiple projects are planned for the next several weeks, including completion of a health clinic, energy saving projects and possibly a new roof.
Along with Hopewell Health Centers and a $25,000 grant from the Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund, the district is working to establish a health clinic within one of the rooms of the elementary/middle school.
“If a parent suspects his or her child is ill, or should a child become ill through the school day, the regular school nurse will see the child and evaluate the situation. If the child does have an illness which the nurse feels needs further medical attention, parents would have the option of having their child sent across the hall to the clinic. The nurse practitioner there would see the child and bill the parents’ insurance,” said Supt. Kim Jones.
“This arrangement should improve child health and attendance, as well as saving parents the stress of trying to make arrangements to get a child in with an off-site physician, and then having to leave work in order to transport the child there,” Jones continued.
The bulk of the funds ($20,000) will go toward medical supplies, furniture and other equipment.
The health center will consist of two exam rooms and a reception area. It’s expected to take up space about the size of a classroom. Hopewell Health Centers, which is partnering with the district, is covering the cost of the building renovation.
The clinic will be located within Trimble Middle School in Jacksonville, and staffed by a certified nurse practitioner (CPN). A CPN is able to prescribe medication, but no opiates or any other commonly-abused prescription drugs will be kept on site.
Another large scale project taking place within the district’s buildings this summer is related to House Bill 264. The bill permits districts to borrow money to complete energy-saving projects, and then to pay back the loan over time with the savings from those projects.
Part one of our energy-saving project is to enclose a vestibule in glass across the front of the elementary school.
“This will greatly help reduce heat loss, with a secondary benefit of improving security,” said Jones.
Part two of the energy-saving project is to replace the lighting in both buildings with more energy-efficient lighting.
“The engineers estimate that we will be able to pay back the loan with the savings from these two projects over 15 years,” Jones said. “Of course, along the way and even thereafter we also get the benefit of the improvements.”
The final project may be the most long awaited.
After passage of the district’s permanent improvement levy in May, the building and grounds committee has been meeting to review options on the replacement of the roof at the building in Jacksonville.
The committee is looking into the options on how to best complete the roof quickly and properly.
“We would love to have that new roof in place before school resumes in August but don’t want to compromise quality by rushing,” said Jones. The district has been meeting with architects with regard to the project.
“We really appreciate the voters’ willingness to replace the roof and are eager to get this project going,” said Jones.