Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Renovation Projects
Q1. How will the middle and high school students share resources while Yorktown Middle School is being renovated.
A1. The York High and Yorktown Middle students will utilize the YHS gymnasium and cafeteria during separate, scheduled times. YMS will have its own library in the learning cottages.
Q2. I would like to know what kind of deterrent will be used to ensure the safety of our students and staff from the speeding traffic of Rt. 17 and any accidents?
A2. The school division will install a VDOT-approved guardrail along the Route 17 border as protection against vehicular incidents off the road in proximity to the trailers. This guardrail will be in place prior to the beginning of the 2005-06 school year.
Q3. How many restrooms will be in place to accommodate the 900 students/adults at York High School during the upcoming renovation, and will there be covered walkways to protect them from the elements ?
A3. The student body at YHS will be the fourth student body in the past 7 years to spend the school year in temporary facilities while their school undergoes renovation.
The restroom facilities at YHS today are the same design used by the student body at Tabb High School, at Bruton High School and at Queens Lake Middle. In fact, the restroom units at YHS are the same units used by Bruton High School students and Queens Lake Middle School students.
While the accommodations are not perfect they have proven to be adequate. Given that we had no problems with our previous schools, we did not adjust the number of restrooms for the York High School project.
Additionally, the gym facilities will be available throughout the renovation process and the associated restrooms and locker rooms will be available to students during the school day.
As to covered walkways, we rely on students and staff to bring appropriate protective clothing to school when weather forecasts warrant such plans.
Q4.What will be done to keep individuals from slipping and falling off the plywood walkways? Also, I don't think they are wide enough for students to safely walk to their classes.
A4. The walkway surface will be coated with non-skid in late September after the wood's preservatives weather off. Division staff will watch to determine if the walkways need to be widened. The walkways were raised to cover electrical conduit, but staff also will watch to determine if the height of the walkways need to be adjusted.
Q5 What will be the procedure for students and staff for tornado warnings or other type of severe storms. Will they have drills on how to access the main school building for safety?
A5. Drills for fire and tornado safety will take place at YHS as they have in previous years. Additionally, school administration has already put together a plan for the speedy evacuation of the trailers, if needed. The YHS gym and cafeteria are available for use if students need to evacuate the trailers for any reason.
Q6 What is being done at York High School to improve the quality of the drinking water?
A6. Water lines that supply drinking water and cooking water to York High School are being replaced during the renovation.
Q7 Are the water pipes at Yorktown Middle School being replaced during renovation?
A7. The Yorktown Middle project has not been awarded to a contractor yet, so specific plans are not available. However, several years ago the piping that caused raised levels of lead in the school water was replaced.
Q8. How will the issue of safety be handled when children need to use the restroom during class time and there is no one watching?
A8. The high school has used duty teachers to monitor the walkways and restroom areas during the day. The middle school also plans for a duty teacher to be patrolling the trailers during every period. All the restroom doors will be locked when not in use and students needing the restroom will go to the clinic first, get the key from the nurse and then return the key to the clinic.
Additionally, the school resource officer assigned to the YHS campus will continue to patrol the school grounds.
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