Pulaski County district reports summer surge in security, HVAC and stadium projects at PCHS

Pulaski County Public Schools facilities staff reported this week that contractors and in-house crews completed or advanced a series of summer projects at Pulaski County High School and other district sites, including a security wall and vestibule, a 52-foot chiller installation, stadium lighting, and renovation of the Northwood building into a new board office.

The district’s presentation said the new security wall at Pulaski County High School includes multiple badge-reader doors and a “teller window” that allows office staff to hand items to visitors without admitting them to the main building. "That teller window ... is built like a giant security vestibule," a facilities staff member said, describing how the design lets staff handle short interactions without allowing visitors into the school courtyard.

Officials said a new 52-foot chiller was set on a prepared pad using a crane and is now cooling the building. Facilities staff also said they moved large rooftop HVAC units into correct rooftop locations, replaced worn cooling components, and completed substantial in-house electrical and pad work to reduce contractor costs. "We did all of the electrical work. We did the pad. We did all that stuff to get ready for the chiller," a staff member said.

Work at the stadium included removing old light poles and installing new fixtures and underground conduits; district staff reported the stadium lights were tested and lit the afternoon before the meeting and that asphalt paving and fencing remained scheduled with an August 22 target if weather allows. The facilities presenter said crews hope to complete door hardware, badge readers and licensing for electronic controls by the end of the week, though a software license delay remained unresolved.

Renovation of Northwood into the new school board office is underway, the district said. Crews completed demolition in-house, performed asbestos abatement, ran approximately 18,000 feet of Cat-6 cable, and framed new office and conference spaces. District staff said they are planning to vacate their leased office at 02/2002 by the end of August and aim to hold the September board meeting in the new boardroom if AV installation finishes as scheduled.

District staff also presented additional maintenance activity across the county — painting at Dublin Elementary, replacement of roofs and rooftop equipment, kitchen refrigerator and freezer installation, and ongoing pavement concerns. Facilities staff noted that many parking lots across the division need repaving and that the textbook and capital funds were largely committed to major projects such as the chiller.

The facilities presentation included many photographs showing work progress and staff credited in-house crews with completing large portions of the projects to reduce costs. Board members thanked the facilities staff and asked follow-up questions about outstanding items such as exterior lighting at Dublin Elementary and the condition of specific columns and pavement.

District officials said they will schedule an open house for the community once the new boardroom is complete.