District's central office gets facelift

The Maryville R-II School District's central office now has a new interior look that includes a significant amount of additional workspace.

Built more than two decades ago by students in the Building Trades program, the office's carpet, desks, cabinets and paint were all still original until this winter's remodeling project.

Seven district employees, including its top administrators, work in the building located just north of Maryville High School.

R-II Building and Grounds Superintendent Ron Wilson said that plans to remodel have been in the works for some time.

"The building had a lot of cabinets and fixed desks that were no longer needed because of computers," Wilson said. "All of that cabinet space was there for file storage that is all electronic now."

Upgrades include square modular carpet, which makes for easier installation and flexibility, vinyl flooring, new paint and new countertops in the bathrooms.

Other improvements comprise electrical and internet fixtures that allow for easier computer access.

Wilson said that the total cost of materials was roughly $8,500, which was set aside in this year's maintenance budget. All labor was performed by district maintenance employees.

The project began during the week leading up to winter break, and with only one desk remaining to assemble, Wilson said the job is basically 99 percent done.

All materials were bought locally, and the desks were purchased from a Missouri Department of Corrections program in which prisoners build office furniture.

Start to finish, the project only took four weeks.

"It worked out really good for us," Wilson said. "It was a great winter project. The timing was right."

Wilson said the remodel should contribute to administrative efficiency.

"This really makes the office more user-friendly for today's world," he said. "I think that the end results will be a lot better for them than having those old fixed desks with space that wasn't being used."