Hamburg Middle School students started their first day of school on Aug. 25 arriving to find the school building’s renovations nearly complete.
On Aug. 22, Hamburg Area School Directors were informed that renovations to the middle school were 99 percent complete prior to the start of a new school year.
The critical component of the project was to create a safe and secure entrance which will require a card to allow access to the building. The office area was also reconfigured to have the main office closer to the entrance.
Secondly, a wooden floor was installed in the gymnasium to replace the synthetic-coated floor. Mats and energy-efficient lights were also added.
Finally, some aesthetic work was completed to the front area of the building. Deteriorated sidewalks were replaced and pillars were recapped.
Nine tables and six benches were also added to the area.
“We hope to use this as positive behavior incentive where students would be allowed to have lunch outside,” said Dr. Gene McGorry, middle school co-principal.
The completion of the project means that the district’s four classroom buildings have secure entrances.
In other news, school directors hired Kevin Heckman as a technology support specialist at a salary of $36,000.
“Through some administrative restructuring and reallocation of existing funds we are able to get another set of boots on the ground,” Superintendent Dr. Richard Mextorf said. “As we become more robust with technology we now have double coverage.”
Heckman becomes the fourth member of the technology department and will join support specialist Richard Narducci in providing coverage to the district’s four classroom buildings.
“We will have more support in the buildings for teachers and students where we need it most,” said Than Wright, technology coordinator.
Matt Bertschy is the department’s network systems manager.
The next meeting of school directors is Monday, Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the James A. Gilmartin Community Room.
