Walker County Board of Education looks over documents during a recent planning session at the Advancing Education Center in Chickamauga.Walker County Schools will soon have new security systems in all of its schools. And by next summer, all schools will have new HVAC energy controls for heating and air.
Walker County Schools Director of Facilities and Operations Chris Jones told members at their recent planning session that he is working to ensure each summer project is completed before students return next month.
Security systems are being installed in all middle schools so all doors are locked and visitors must be buzzed in.
“They can see you from the office area and let you in or not,” said Jones. “All elementary schools’ security systems are complete. We will work on the high school security systems this fall. This way, if a bad guy comes, they can’t get in. It will help us a lot as far as anyone coming in the building. We have total control with the building.”
At Gilbert Elementary School, Jones’ team is replacing the whole HVAC central plant and it is on schedule to be completed by July 27. A new cooling tower, new hot water heater, new water pumps, new heat exchange and a new boiler will all be installed, he said.