DECATUR - The first things you notice when entering Baum School are the new purple carpet runners inside the front door. The rugs are gifts from the school's Parent-Teacher Association and match the new paint job: purple doors and trim throughout.

"Purple and white are our school colors, and we thought the Purple Heart and the school being named after someone who lost his life in service to our country (Michael Baum, who died during his service in Vietnam)," said Principal Debbie Bandy. "It's a little symbolism we can talk about with the children."

Every summer, director of buildings and grounds Mike Sotiroff and his crew spruce up district buildings. Lately this annual job has grown as the district employees have worked toward fulfilling a goal of the strategic plan, to make buildings as welcoming and attractive as possible.

Thanks to the capital improvement plan, Sotiroff said, the district has more life health safety funds available for such work.

Projects this summer included new carpet at Garfield Montessori, Baum, Brush College, Franklin, Durfee, Harris, Stephen Decatur Middle School, Eisenhower High School and the Decatur Area Technical Academy.

Durfee, Johns Hill Magnet School, Muffley, Oak Grove and the Keil Administration Building received new roofs. Playgrounds at several schools were painted, and there's new asphalt at Baum, Franklin, Muffley and Stevenson.

The designer of Thomas Jefferson Middle School had specified heating equipment that also was capable of air conditioning, using the same principle as a boiler, which sends heated water through pipes to created heat. A chiller sends chilled water to create air conditioning.

During this summer's renovation of the band and choral room, maintenance workers noticed a condensation pan in the heating system, and with the connections of pipes to create a two-pipe system to transport chilled water as well as heated water, the entire school is air-conditioned.

Superintendent Gloria Davis has an oft-repeated wish that all Decatur schools will have air conditioning.

One of the last photos Sotiroff showed the school board during his presentation at the Sept. 23 meeting was a hallway in Thomas Jefferson Middle School. With a completely straight face, Sotiroff announced, "And here's Thomas Jefferson, with cool air coming out of the system."

It took a moment, but the room erupted in laughter.

vwells@herald-review.com|421-7982