According to Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District Superintendent Barbara U’Ren, the district office was disappointed it has had to reschedule repaving and reconfiguring the parking lots at Dr. Daniel Bright School, Oak Creek School and Mountain View Preparatory until summer 2017.
“The district did not receive any bids on these three large projects,” U’Ren stated. “Because the large projects could not be started, the decision was made to also wait on resurfacing Cottonwood Middle School and the district office until the summer of 2017.”
Nonetheless, U’Ren encouraged locals to visit sites that have already been the benefactors of the first year of capital bond project improvements to district buildings — in particular, the district office, which was built in 1923 and remains recognizable to a person of that era.
“To our knowledge, this building has never had any major plaster repair since that time,” U’Ren said. “The years have taken a toll on the plaster with many cracks and cement chunks dislodged from the building. This has been repaired along with exterior painting and all windows have been caulked and repainted.”
Many of the office’s windows were broken, all of which have now been prepared. Two rooms in the upper level are being renovated for meeting and training rooms. The transportation department received new evaporated coolers, a coat of fresh paint and interior tile and a new metal canopy structure.
Locals driving by Dr. Daniel Bright School could not avoid seeing the work being done over the summer, with tall cranes often positioned over the large building and paving being torn up at its entrance. Occasionally, summer daycare services were interrupted in order to accommodate renovations.
“This summer we placed a new sign at Dr. Daniel Bright, replaced roofing and added new air conditioners,” U’Ren stated. “We also had two bathrooms renovated, the building exterior doors and trim repainted, the walk-in cooler and freezer renovated and electrical systems upgraded.”
According to U’Ren, the restrooms in the Cottonwood Middle School gym had not been renovated since its construction. With the bond funds, the district underwent a “major renovation to bring them up to standard for both students and public.”
In addition, CMS’ science lab was renovated, failing doors and hardware were replaced and electrical systems were upgraded.
“Oak Creek School has had its Junior High building stucco repaired and bathrooms renovated, the majority of single pane windows replaced with energy efficient double pane windows, failing doors and hardware replaced, HVAC systems replaced, electrical system upgraded and a new monument sign installed,” U’Ren added. “The entire campus also has a fresh new coat of paint.”
Lastly, Mountain View Preparatory received new roofing and a fresh coat of exterior paint.
