Bloomfield School Renovation Now In Progress

Photo by Cory Loomis | Leveling of the floor is one of a few things being done for the renovation.

By Cory Loomis
cory@mylocalcountynews.com

​With the completion of the third floor renovations last summer at the Bloomfield High School, the next phase has begun. In the week following the summer vacation, the crews began tearing up the first and second floor.

Last year's work marked the first major renovation in the original school since it was built in 1926. The new gym and classroom additions were completed in 1963 along with the elementary school.

A major portion of this year's renovation includes removing the asbestos flooring in the old gym, leveling of floors in classrooms, updating the building's electrical and plumbing and bringing the floors up to speed in regards fire code. Additionally, all windows on the first and second floors are being replaced with energy efficient windows.

A few walls are also being removed to increase classroom space. In replacing the lighting with energy-efficient LED lighting, the school will receive energy credits to be put towards the lowing of electrical costs.

"The physics students tracked and calculated the savings on the 3rd floor which came out to be about $300 a month through the harshest part of the winter," said superintendent Shane Alexander.

The floor in the math room has been re-poured with concrete and the art room required leveling as there was a three-inch difference from front to back.

The office spaces on the second floor are being remodeled along with removing of walls in the office of Connie Thiele and classrooms on first and second floor.

Future plans include modifications to the locker rooms to support tournaments. While not in black and white yet, Alexander hopes to have the modifications done at some point.

"Districts are out for us," he said. 4 separate locker rooms are a requirement to host larger tournaments list Lewis and Clark or districts.

"Our building has good bones, its structurally sound, its solid. We are just trying to make it work as a functional learning space in a modern world," said Alexander.

​ The renovation is expected to be complete by the commencement of the 2018-19 school year.