Summer vacation still seems a long time away, but the Limestone County Schools maintenance department is starting its summer work now so not to risk falling behind.

Maintenance Director Steve Wallace on Thursday said he is getting a jump-start on work at Elkmont High School before it is split into separate elementary and high schools. At Thursday’s board meeting, Wallace expected the board to approve an asbestos abatement project related to the tile flooring in the school hallways and bathrooms.

Some of the flooring material is original to the school building, but several pieces have been replaced over the years. All these tiles contain fibers that have asbestos as an ingredient, Wallace said, but that amount is far less than what is considered harmful to humans. Additionally, the school receives and submits annual reports to the state monitoring asbestos levels in its facility. So far there haven’t been any problems, Wallace said.

“We’re just trying to get ahead on summer projects,” he said.

As Wallace prepares to oversee renovations at Elkmont, including the replacement of tile in bathrooms and hallways, the abatement project will lessen any harmful effects caused by pulling the tile up. Workers will utilize fans and filtering systems to reduce the probability of asbestos particles being released in the air during the deconstruction.

The project is scheduled to take place during spring break — March 13-17 — when classes are excused for the week. The tile will then be totally replaced over the summer. Work is expected to cost $10,900, according to board documents. The money is slated to come from a state leverage fund, which is cash set aside by the Alabama Department of Education to conduct maintenance projects at public schools.

West Limestone High School

The Limestone County Schools Board of Education was also expected to vote Thursday to approve work valued at more than $90,000 at West Limestone High School’s old gymnasium.

Administrators are looking to replace outdated bleachers and flooring in the auxiliary gym. The reason for such an investment, said district Athletics Director Rusty Bates, is the secondary gym still serves many purposes.

The main purpose, Bates said, is the county plays competition-level games in both gyms simultaneously, shortening the time families and students have to spend at a gym on a school night. Physical education classes and Saturday recreation leagues still use the gym.

It’s time then, Bates said, for the 50-year-old bleachers to be replaced. But once they come up, there’s no telling what condition the hardwood floor will be in, so workers will also sand down the gym floor “to the wood,” Bates said, then refinish it, wax it and re-paint it.

“It’s a brand-new floor essentially,” he said.

After that, crews will paint the interior and the ceiling to give the facility a fresh look.

“This will get West in good shape as far as gyms go,” Bates said, explaining the main gymnasium was refinished and fitted with new bleachers and lights within the last five years.