High Tech, Energy Efficient

Remember the Jetson's? I used to love that cartoon as a child. They would walk into a room, and things just happened automatically. Time to get dressed? A machine brought their clothes, and put them on for each person. It was pretty cool. Well, OCA staff and students will still continue to dress themselves, but when you walk into a classroom, the lights will go on for you, and they will go off by themselves when the room is empty.

When I recently walked through the elementary building. What I noticed most is that the classroom lighting is installed, and I had a pleasant surprise! The lighting is set up on automated switches. With the light switch set properly, the lights turn on when you walk into a room. After a while, the lights in an empty room will turn themselves off. Of course, lights can be turned on and off on command as well. Perhaps I am easily amused by technology, but I think this is both Jetson's cool, and it is energy efficient as well.

As you walk through the building, it is clear that the Step Out team which served at OCA did a nice job of cleaning up the building. While there are still some things to be done before move in, the building is quickly moving toward being ready for move in. Some things yet to be completed are setting the bathroom fixtures, placing the ceiling tiles, and installing carpet, and doors. These are all in the plan, it is just not yet time for those steps. For example, we are told that the ceiling tiles should not be installed until the Heating and Air Conditioning are turned on. The humidity and temperature changes can cause them to change shape, so we plan to install those as late as possible. Also, the carpet installation will be late in the project, so that construction dirt is not a problem on the new carpet.

We also need to complete the data and phone network. Cable has been pulled into all of the elementary classrooms, but the cable needs to be connected to equipment at each end before it will be functional.

This building looks really sharp inside. I am eager for you all to see where our students will be going to school after the move. Now is a time when we simply practice patience and prayer. I also expect there will be opportunity for service at work days at the building. Please be willing to come and help.

OCA families are encouraged to come to the Association meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16th in the Cafeteria space at 56th and L. The Spring meeting should be in the new building!

Thanks for reading!

Keith