Construction at the Putnam Early Learning Academy nearly complete as crews finish final electrical work and safety features before students return from fall break.
Putnam County Schools Deputy Director Tim Martin said the project is 99 percent finished, with minor interior paint issues and fire alarm components among the remaining items. The district also has a standard one-year warranty on the building for contractors to address problems that emerge after completion.
“I think if you came over there and toured the facility if you were familiar with it before, it just looks completely different on the inside,” Martin said. “We’re very proud of what we’ve done to the place and I think we’ve made a really good school out of it.”
Martin said improvements extend outside the building with completion of a new parking lot. A fence and gate will separate the parking area from the school building as an additional safety measure.
“No we’re very happy with that right now,” Martin said. “We had a lot of parents that were parking down at the baseball fields and walking their children up from there and hopefully we have alleviated that. From what the school principal tells me it’s running much better with the parking lot.”
Martin said the project took longer than originally anticipated following delays involving the architect and fire marshal. The experience showed the district the importance of closely monitoring contractors as projects move toward completion.
“I just think we have to we have to continually be on the contractors and the general contractor and just make sure that we keep their nose to the grindstone the whole time,” Martin said.
Martin said the district recently addressed a payment to Energy Systems Group that had been withheld because of the project delays. One remaining issue involves peeling paint in the hallways, but the district will not be responsible for the repair cost.
“I don’t know exactly what the problem was but it’s 100 percent on them so there will be no additional cost to us,” Martin said.
Martin said the district expects to officially close out the project once the remaining safety inspections and punch-list items are completed following fall break.
