Make Our School Shine Day: Shoemaker sponsors effort to paint Mastery Charter School gymnasium

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA, OCTOBER 2006— Shoemaker Construction Co. announces "Make Our School Shine Day" at the Mastery Charter School Thomas Campus, located at 927 Johnston Street in South Philadelphia. The event will take place on Monday, October 9, 2006 from 2:30–6:00 p.m. Approximately 25 volunteers from Shoemaker Construction Co,. Blackney Hayes Architects, and the school’s staff will team up to paint the school’s gymnasium.

Shoemaker is renovating most of the interior spaces in the building, but the gymnasium is not included in the scope of work. The project team decided to donate their services to give it a fresh coat of paint and minor cosmetic fixes. Mastery Charter is expanding its physical education program at the Thomas Campus, which now includes a yoga class. The gym will also be home to the school’s newly formed girls’ basketball team.

"We’re excited to see this work completed," said Jeff Pestrak, principal of the school. "Shoemaker has done an outstanding job of transforming the building into a new learning environment consistent with Mastery’s educational model. This volunteer effort is icing on the cake."

Three subcontractors on the project are also getting involved. M. Schnoll & Sons, Inc. of Philadelphia is donating all of the painting equipment for the event, including rollers, trays, brushes, and drop cloths. A.T. Chadwick Service Co. of Bensalem and American Interior Construction Co. of Newtown Square donated $500 each towards the purchase of paint.

"We have a great team of subcontractors and suppliers who never fail to step up to the plate," said Maura Hesdon, Shoemaker’s on-site project manager. "Schnoll, Chadwick, and American Interiors’ contributions will go a long way towards making this event truly successful."

High Tech High Foundations, Inc. is redeveloping the aging school building for its Mastery Charter School program. Shoemaker serves as Construction Manager for the renovation of the former George C. Thomas Middle School, originally built in 1920. Blackney Hayes Architects is providing design services for the project.

Work completed to date at the Thomas Campus includes the complete demolition and renovation of interior space on the upper two floors of the 4-story building. This work was completed during the 2005-2006 school year, while classes remained in session on the lower floors. The upper floors opened for classes this semester while work crews moved to the lower two levels. The scope of the project also includes equipping the building with all new electrical, mechanical, HVAC, plumbing, and sprinkler systems, as well as new lighting and an elevator.

The Thomas Campus represents the second Mastery Charter School established by High Tech High Foundations, Inc. When construction work is completed, the school will provide 38 classrooms for 600 students in grades 6 through 12.

Shoemaker previously completed the organization’s flagship Lenfest High School and now is engaged in preconstruction activities for two additional schools in the Mastery Charter program.

Mastery Charter Schools was established to provide a learning environment where students can develop the academic and critical thinking skills they will need to succeed in higher education and compete in the global economy. The program provides students an opportunity to excel using a mastery-based grading and graduation structure, a technology infused curriculum, and modern management practices.

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