Mechanicsville, MD – Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot presented Oakville Elementary School with the 2016 Silver Hammer Award Tuesday, May 24 for its outstanding facility maintenance and dedication to improving its campus.
Oakville Elementary School earned a 93 percent rating on the most recent state inspection. The inspection judged the school on 37 different engineering criteria, including the building’s structural conditions, windows, doors and walkways. The school was praised for its high level of sanitation and the appearance of the school’s interior and exterior.
“You would never know that [Oakville] is a 50-year-old building when you walk in,” Dr. Jeff Walker, assistant superintendent of Supporting Services said.
The school has undergone extensive renovations during its 50-year history. It was only 20,502 square feet when it was originally built in 1966. After undergoing additions in 1976, 1998 and 2005, the school has grown to 48,072 square feet.
After further renovations on the heating and air conditioning system and the parking lots in 2012, Oakville now has some of the lowest energy-use statistics per square foot in the school system, said Dr. Walker.
Comptroller Franchot praised Oakville Principal Bo Carpenter and the numerous building service workers present at the ceremony–including Building Service Assistant Manager Diane Brawner–for their continued commitment to the well-being of their school.
Comptroller Franchot honored Carpenter with a Maryland Hero Medallion for his military service. He then awarded Diane Brawner a medallion for her outstanding work in building service.
Franchot awarded the Comptroller Medallion to the other building service workers present, in order to honor their continued commitment to Oakville Elementary School.
Franchot finished his speech by allowing the group of fifth-graders who attended the ceremony to ask him questions about his job as comptroller.
During the question and answer session, a student informed Comptroller Franchot that he and his classmates pick up trash at the end of every lunch period. Franchot awarded the student a Comptroller Medallion for his commitment and care to his school.
Beyond the principal and building service workers, the involvement in building maintenance is present at every level of the school.
“My advice to other schools would be to make sure that the kids are involved,” Carpenter said.
The school hosts a Beautification Day each Earth Day where students and parents pitch in to improve the school building. They help cut bushes, put mulch down, weed and seed.
The Silver Hammer Award was created by Comptroller Franchot in 2010 to ensure that Maryland recognizes schools demonstrating financial diligence through superior school facility maintenance.
“The state of Maryland cannot afford to build new schools,” said Franchot. “Let’s take care of what we have.”
The Silver Hammer Award is presented to one school in each of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City.
