Bulrush Slough Lower Classroom Renovation
Over twenty-five years ago, Charlie Bell, arranged for a portable building to be delivered to Belwin for the Saint Paul Public Schools to use as a new classroom. It was hauled to the property and set in place across the road from Bulrush Slough by workers including John Palmen and Bob Teeters. They carved out an area of hillside, created a foundation, and put the building in place. The Bullrush Slough Classroom is still in use today by the special education program at Belwin and since it opened, over 40,000 students have started their days here. It has been a classroom, a lab, a shelter, and a place to review all the things that were experienced that day. Students have eaten their lunches and asked their questions here. Wild turkeys have walked through its open doors on sunny fall afternoons, and swallows have entered and flown a few laps on cool spring mornings. From its windows we have seen deer, otter, mink, and raccoon pass by and have witnessed a parade of spring birds as they return from their winter residence. At times this building has felt more like a wildlife blind than a classroom.
Recently, this building had been feeling its age. The old bank of florescent lights flickered and buzzed, the sinks no longer would take a shine, the ceiling was grey and marked, the floor tiles were loose and yellowed and the old chrome institutional cooler droned on so loud it was hard to hear anything else. During the spring of this year the Saint Paul Public School System and Belwin staff decided to rehabilitate the building. Over the summer Eric Palmen, Martin McGough, and Steve Hobbs started an “Extreme Make Over.” Safety, appearance, and energy efficiency were the goals for the project. The floors, ceiling, molding and wall coverings were redone; new sinks and toilets were installed; new, quiet exhaust fans were added and a small, quiet, refrigerator was purchased.
The best addition, however, has been the installation of six new solar tubes. These special skylights gather natural light and focus it inside the classroom. The difference it has made is striking. The natural light that these skylights provide means that we hardly need to turn on artificial lights and it gives the room the feel of the outdoors.
Everyone including teachers and students has been very positive about the changes. Having a building that is energy efficient is also a way of teaching people that there are better ways of doing things.
The work was completed just before the school year began. We had a small gathering to celebrate the grand opening. We hope it will have another 25 years of serving kids.
Special thanks goes to Eric Palmen and Martin McGough who spent tortuous hours in the attic installing the tubes when the days were well into the 90’s.