Yowell set to open, maybe

By Rhonda Simmons

Published: August 25, 2008

Culpeper County Public School’s highly anticipated sixth elementary school is scheduled to open Wednesday — a week after the rest of the county — Construction Projects Manager Hunter Spencer told the School Board during its regular work session Monday night.

However, the opening is based on another building inspection, which Spencer hopes will result in the extension of the existing temporary occupancy permit.

Spencer anticipates receiving the new permit from building inspectors today by 1 p.m.

The expected permit will allow students and the general public to enter the new $15 million two-story building. The existing permit only gives teachers the permission to enter the 650-student building that is under construction near the corner of Yowell Drive and Sperryville Pike.

Site work in the kitchen and gymnasium are the cause for the most recent inspection. For the first three days of school, students will receive bag lunches because the kitchen hood isn’t completely installed.

As of Monday night, telephone lines weren’t working either. Spencer said calls could be made out, but the school was unable to receive calls.

On the bright side, Spencer informed the board that all of the fire alarms were installed and appear to be working. Final touches to the elevator will be done today and the lines on Yowell Drive have been painted, according to Spencer.

Board member Elizabeth Hutchins asked Spencer about concealing the school’s exposed cooling tower.

“On Saturday there wasn’t anything around it,” she said. “We need to do something so that kids are not climbing around it. It’s a hazard.”

Spencer said CCPS maintenance crews would have to install the fencing because that issue wasn’t included in the contract.

Hutchins raised one last concern before ending the Yowell discussion.

“So we’re a go for Wednesday?” she asked.

“I’m expecting it to open,” Spencer replied. “I’m not expecting it to not open.”

If all else fails, the school system will inform parents via School Messenger, a telephone notification service.

In action news, the board voted 5-1 in favor of developing the parameters for potentially hiring a facilitator to help create an updated divisionwide vision.

Board member Anne Luckinbill dissented and Bob Beard was absent.

The School Board’s existing vision is “To become the highest-performing school division in the Virginia School Board Association’s Central Region,” according to the school system’s Web site.

Rusty Jenkins inquired about the cost.

Leanne Jenkins suggested that the cost for hiring a temporary part-time facilitator would cost between $800 and $10,000 depending on the desired service.

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .