Blair undergoes improvements for Bush's visit

Beginning on Monday, June 20, Blair staff members and other workers labored almost around-the-clock to prepare the building for President Bush's visit to the school on June 23.

Building Service Manager Quentin Middleton led the efforts of Blair's building service workers to clean and fix up the school before Bush's arrival. "We got the parking-lot arrows repainted and waxed the front and back hallways," said Middletown. Middleton himself spent 19 hours, from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., the day before Bush's speech preparing Blair. "[The preparation] was very demanding," he said.

Building service workers said that improvement projects at Blair that had been neglected for months were finally completed last week in order to spruce up the building for the president's visit. Light bulbs that burned out eight months ago, for example, were replaced only last week.

The Blair auditorium itself experienced a vast transformation in preparation for the president's visit. The last three rows of seats were entirely removed to make room for television cameras and photographers. The stage was carpeted blue and three signs reading "Strengthening Social Security for the 21st Century" were hung from the side and back curtains. Bleachers were placed on the back of the stage and a platform for photographers was installed in the orchestra pit. In addition, large light fixtures were positioned on both sides of the stage and on the auditorium balcony.

Middleton and his team of building service workers gave special care to President Bush and the Secret Service, who were housed in the choral room and the band room, respectively, during the event. "The Renaissance hallway was completely redone," explained Middletown. "We shampooed the rugs and dusted everything; we did the whole nine yards."