James Blair Conversion To Be Complete Feb. 15

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The administration of Williamsburg-James City County schools will move into its new central office, the former James Blair Middle School, one month behind schedule.

The middle school’s temporary conversion to office space was originally estimated to be complete Jan. 15, but Facilities Management Coordinator Alan Robertson reported the estimated final completion date is now Feb. 15. The additional time was at the division’s request, according to a presentation from RRMM Architects at the Dec. 21 WJCC School Board work session.

The School Board approved a plan to convert James Blair Middle School into a central office for $2.9 million in July 2009. RRMM Architects completed the design for the project, while United General Contractors has worked to complete the conversion, including the installation of a new heating and cooling system. On Dec. 21, RRMM representatives Duane Harver and Janet Kramer told the board that the project was delayed by several change orders.

Robertson detailed the change orders, which included long-needed cleaning and painting projects. The change orders, all owner-initiated, included painting the exterior of the elevator shaft, installing HVAC controllers in the gym, replacing exterior doors that were in “terrible shape” after years of quick fixes and cleaning duct work in the auditorium. The change orders also included some adjustments for the Academic Services offices, including spreading out some of the academic coordinators and building three small offices in a space originally planned to be one large office.

Board member Jim Kelly reminded the administration that the large space James Blair offers is a temporary home for the offices. “I’m concerned people will expect that much space.”

Outgoing board member John Alewynse pointed out that many of these long-needed repairs were coming late. “I certainly appreciate that all of these eyesores are being taken care of,” he said. “We wouldn’t want the administration to suffer them in the manner that the students have over the years.”

Robertson agreed, saying he wished some of the problems had been addressed sooner.

James Blair closed its doors as a school at the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Since September, the Academy for Life and Learning has occupied the building’s annex while the main building has been converted. The division chose to close James Blair Middle School when projections of a swelling middle school population fell short.

James Blair’s reinvention was proposed as temporary, with offices constructed out of temporary walls. If population projections do come to pass, the division’s three middle schools could be over capacity by 2012, but in November, the board discussed using trailers to get through that period rather than reopen Blair.