Brittin Elementary School Reopens

October 24, 2002

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October 18, 2002

Brittin reopens

By Joe Jr., Staff Reporter

Shouts of happy children, patriotic music and smiles all around attended the

reopening of Brittin Elementary School on Fort Thursday. Principal

Sherry Templeton might have been speechless with happiness at having her

school back, had she not been speechless with laryngitis.

Assistant Principal Carol Kipp spoke for Templeton - and apparently the rest

of the crowd of students, parents and others - when she described the joy of

the Brittin family at " being back together again. "

The school had been plagued with air quality problems that defied experts'

efforts to explain and worsened when windows were kept closed to improve

security.

Nearly $4 million was rushed to the school this summer, following a

recommendation by a private firm hired to conduct a comprehensive indoor air

quality investigation in January. The investigation was spurred by student

and teacher complaints of symptoms experienced that may have been related to

air quality at the school since last October.

While the air quality report submitted by Baker and Associates did not

reveal the presence of harmful agents, except for formaldehyde, the report

did recommend replacing the old HVAC system in place since the 1980s. The

original plan was to replace the system in 2003, but with the concern of

environmental quality the process was jump-started.

The Savannah District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers drove the Phase 1 project

to completion. J.A. of Marietta was contracted to replace the HVAC.

The firm started Phase 1 June 9 and completed it in 60 days. The completion

of Phase 2 was celebrated Thursday.

The two remaining classroom wings are now open and the students get hot

lunches from the reopened cafeteria.

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