Every seven years, the Columbia Public Schools painting crew makes its way to RBHS on the rotation. Several classrooms and hallways were painted over again in November, creating a minor inconvenience for students and faculty.
“Actually, the administration had set up the PAC with all that we needed,” English teacher Deborah McDonough said. “And thanks to the great spirit and cooperation of our students, we were fine with the temporary move.”
The maintenance gave the school short notice of the necessary changes to classrooms, and the painting will extend into the second semester, as RBHS is one of the largest buildings in CPS.
“The entire project will take months and some spaces can’t be done on school days,” Assistant Principal of Operations Brian Gaub said. “Areas like the pre-school, media center, copy room, girls locker rooms will be done on days without school. There are areas that won’t get painted but we want to keep those to a minimum.
McDonough’s class was one of many that had to change classrooms for the painting, with many teachers given just a few days notice.
“We knew we were coming up on the rotation, but only found out Nov. 21,” Gaub said. “They were ready to start on Monday the 24th at RBHS. We wanted to give teachers some notice to clean off walls, desks, etc., so the painters started in halls.”
Junior Megan Goyette, a student in one of McDonough’s AP Language classes, had class in the PAC lobby one day because of the painting of the classrooms.
“Actually, the administration had set up the PAC with all that we needed,” English teacher Deborah McDonough said. “And thanks to the great spirit and cooperation of our students, we were fine with the temporary move.”
The maintenance gave the school short notice of the necessary changes to classrooms, and the painting will extend into the second semester, as RBHS is one of the largest buildings in CPS.
“The entire project will take months and some spaces can’t be done on school days,” Assistant Principal of Operations Brian Gaub said. “Areas like the pre-school, media center, copy room, girls locker rooms will be done on days without school. There are areas that won’t get painted but we want to keep those to a minimum.
McDonough’s class was one of many that had to change classrooms for the painting, with many teachers given just a few days notice.
“We knew we were coming up on the rotation, but only found out Nov. 21,” Gaub said. “They were ready to start on Monday the 24th at RBHS. We wanted to give teachers some notice to clean off walls, desks, etc., so the painters started in halls.”
Junior Megan Goyette, a student in one of McDonough’s AP Language classes, had class in the PAC lobby one day because of the painting of the classrooms.
I actually liked it better because it was a lot more laid back,” Goyette said. “School maintenance has never inconvenienced me before, although the paint did smell terrible.”
The painting is scheduled to continue for two weeks after winter break, in order to complete the remaining classrooms and areas of the school.
“We have the first two weeks after break scheduled,” Gaub said. “Classrooms and office in the Studies wing and some more Science rooms. I’ll build the schedule two weeks at a time. It’s a balance of giving staff plenty of notice to get ready, but not scheduling more than will get painted.”
However, this could change if winter weather strikes Columbia at all in early January, extending the maintenance even further.
“Eventually snow days could alter the schedule and occasionally the paint crew has to move to other buildings to address damage or other unforeseen needs,” Gaub said. “When they have extra time in a day, they work in the halls and other common spaces.”
By Luke Chval
The painting is scheduled to continue for two weeks after winter break, in order to complete the remaining classrooms and areas of the school.
“We have the first two weeks after break scheduled,” Gaub said. “Classrooms and office in the Studies wing and some more Science rooms. I’ll build the schedule two weeks at a time. It’s a balance of giving staff plenty of notice to get ready, but not scheduling more than will get painted.”
However, this could change if winter weather strikes Columbia at all in early January, extending the maintenance even further.
“Eventually snow days could alter the schedule and occasionally the paint crew has to move to other buildings to address damage or other unforeseen needs,” Gaub said. “When they have extra time in a day, they work in the halls and other common spaces.”
By Luke Chval
