Twin Buttes HS gets a face lift

By Karen Francis
Staff writer

ZUNI — The Public Schools Capital Outlay Council approved the expenditure of $2.1 million to renovate the Twin Buttes High School in Zuni.

The Twin Buttes High School is the smaller high school in the Zuni Public School District. It serves approximately 65 students.

The renovations are focused upon correcting environmental and life safety deficiencies.

“These improvements will greatly improve the learning environment for the students, faculty and staff,” Rodger D. Vaughn, the support services director, said.

Dr. Kaye Peery, superintendent, said that the architects and staff have been working with the Public School Facilities Authority to remove long standing building issues at the school.

“They’ve been in a building that is substandard for many years,” Peery said, adding that the plan is for construction to start right away.

The work will include a new roof on the building, structural repairs and a new acoustical ceiling tile system with ceiling mounted lighting. A fire alarm and fire suppression system will also be installed.

The old mounted radiant heaters and window air conditioners will be replaced with a new heating and air conditioning system. The mechanical engineers estimate that the new system will save the district one-third of heating and cooling costs each year, Vaughn stated.

Electrical service to the building and wiring throughout the facility will also be upgraded as required. Public restrooms will be brought up to current accessibility standards.

Peery stated in a news release that the architects expect the design phase to be completed by the first week of January with construction to begin in February. The schedule calls for all work to be completed before the opening of the school in August 2008.

In the meantime, district staff is planning to temporarily relocate the TBHS students to available space in the old middle school building while construction is under way. The move will occur over the winter break.

The architects estimate that the improvements will extend the life of the 1950s wing of the building another 15-20 years, Vaughn said.

“We are all excited about the prospect of reviving this old school building,” Dr. Peery said. She said that the district has been working on getting funds for this project for more than five years.

“The building is a landmark within the Pueblo and many of our residents have attended school in this facility,” Vaughn said.