School Board: The really real truth about Superior Heights

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

************************* Algoma District School Board clarifies misinformation about Superior Heights Collegiate & Vocational School

The Algoma District School Board takes this opportunity to update the community about the status of the construction and completion of Superior Heights Collegiate and Vocational School, to address concerns that have been raised and to provide details to help clarify misinformation.

We were very pleased that we were able to open Superior Heights, as promised, for instruction of students on the first day of school this September.

As with most construction projects, there are elements that require additional time for completion.

In some cases at Superior Heights, there are construction materials that are currently unavailable and that are on back order, including flashing to complete portions of the roof and specialized glass for one staircase.

These will be installed as soon as they are received.

Construction workers do remain onsite completing the tasks the sub trades are responsible for (ie: dry wall, electrical).

These workers are on site after school hours, working from 4 p.m. to midnight and on weekends.

Windows (i.e. one in the gym, one in the library and one in an exterior door) were broken during the construction phase and were not as a result of the building settling, as noted by one media source.

Water pipes are currently being tested and with any new system, there will be some degree of moisture and leakage.

Our sub contractors have responded quickly to address and correct leakage as soon as it was found.

References have been made to the incomplete and inoperable shop section of the school including auto, wood and machine shops.

Through September and early October, our contractors and instructors were focused on the safe installation of all equipment.

Time was taken to ensure all safety standards were met.

While installation was being completed and certified to be safe, teachers were able to focus on Health and Safety requirements and theory components of these programs, as is usual at the beginning of a course, and provided meaningful instruction for all students enrolled using available equipment.

All shops are now fully operational.

The issue of mice and rats in the new building has been raised.

As with any construction project that involves digging, rodents will be disturbed and become more active, especially as the weather changes.

A construction site, given the open reality during construction, allows time and opportunity for mice to enter the building.

The Board hired a pest management company (Bugland) who has been dealing with the issue and it is our understanding that the rodent problem has been rectified.

As with all of our schools, we work closely with Algoma Public Health, and Health Inspectors to ensure safe, healthy, disease free environments for students, staff and visitors.

We continue to wait for construction to be fully completed before finishing certain cosmetic features.

For instance, all tiles in hallways will be cleaned and polished once construction workers have concluded all their work within the building.

We expect major construction completion to happen no later than the middle of November including: completion of the glass staircase and the final cleaning of the tiles, the completion of driveways and parking lots and landscaping where possible depending on weather including the football field and track.

Many of the delays are out of the control of the school board as we await materials that have not yet arrived or are on back order.

For example, glass from one glass manufacturer in Montreal is backlogged with orders due to the specialized nature of the glass stairwell.

We are presently awaiting louvers for roof top mechanical units and the mechanical room facing North Street to complete the finished look of the building.

These louvers allow air to flow freely.

In waiting for the louvers to arrive, the contractor has covered the units to protect them while still allowing air to flow properly.

There have been questions and comments about the choice of brick and the colour of the exterior.

Given the size of the building and its proximity to Second Line, we wanted to use colours that would not be overbearing.

In consultation with our architects, we chose neutral colours that would blend into the surroundings no matter which direction the school was approached from.

We envision that when the greenery, landscaping and lighting have been completed, Superior Heights will fit seamlessly into the natural landscape at North Street and Second Line.

We thank staff, students and parents for their patience and continued support during these final phases.

We are very proud of this new building, very much a state-of-the-art 21st Century learning institution.

There are an array of features which have been recognized by award-winning architectural publications.

These include a welcoming forum, a fully equipped computer technology wing, a dedicated area for special needs students, a cosmetology room, a Bistro, Medical Science room, a 150-seat multi-media centre, a four-quad gymnasium which may be a first in Northern Ontario and an inviting library centre with learning areas including seating around a comfortable fireplace.

Designed to Green School Best Practices, the school is also a showcase of environmental features such as high efficiency plumbing fixtures, abundant natural light, and numerous lighting controls and sensors.

It also has the distinction of being the first high school built in Sault Ste. Marie in half a century.

As with any project of this magnitude, there will be deficiencies that need to be resolved once occupancy is granted.

Although we would certainly have wanted the school to be fully complete, we believe when we all look back at this, the challenges will be past thoughts and what we have for our community will stand out – a facility with a superior learning environment that will meet the needs of students and allow them to carry the torch of learning for the next 50 to 100 years.

Should there be any further concerns about the construction, safety or programming in and around Superior Heights Collegiate and Vocational School, we encourage you to contact Director of Education Mario Turco or Superintendent of Business Joe Santa Maria at 705.945.7111.

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