The Suffolk School Board received updates on the status of the construction of Creekside Elementary and the middle school renovations during the monthly meeting Thursday night.

The work at Creekside, which will be open to students by September 2006, is currently four days ahead of schedule according to Jim Yatsick, speaking for the superintendent’s office.

Gymnasium and cafeteria masonry walls are currently being built.

Middle school renovations at Forest Glen, John F. Kennedy and John Yeates Schools included work done on gymnasium, locker room, restroom, auditorium and fire alarm facilities.

Most of the renovations and upgrades were completed over the summer, but the schools are still waiting for some lockers and installation of replacement auditorium seating is currently being completed.

&uot;This will serve these facilities very well until the major renovations which are part of the CIP,&uot; said Superintendent Dr. Milton R. Liverman.

Also during the meeting, each of the three Suffolk high schools was presented with automated external defibrillators (AED).

The kits were the HeartStart FRx Defibrillator from Philips.

Each school, along with two Isle of Wight high schools, Isle of Wight Academy and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, is receiving one kit.

When activated, the kits are automated and audio-guided to assist the user.

The audio guidance gives specific, step-by-step, instructions and also gives further instructions (i.e. how to perform CPR) after a person’s cardiac arrest has been prevented by the defibrillators.

Describing the kits to the board members, Thomas Woodward III said, &uot;even though we hope no one will ever need the use of these devices, they could possibly save the lives of one of the thousands of students in these schools.&uot;

andrew.giermak@suffolknewsherald.com