Local workers from Salman Pak, Iraq, and Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, work to refurbish the Zarqua al Yamama Girls’ School, Feb. 28. U.S. Army photo courtesy of 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment.

The school’s poor condition was brought to the attention of 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment leaders by members of the Salman Pak council, said Capt. Mathew Givens, from Columbus, Ga., civil-military operations officer for 1-15th Inf. Regt.

“The school was in absolutely horrible condition,” he said. “We have looked at about 38 to 40 schools and this one was the worst one of all of them, structurally and cosmetically. It was completely falling apart.”

Funded through the Commander’s Emergency Relief Program, 1-15th Inf. Regt. leaders hired a contractor from Baghdad who had worked with the battalion on past projects. Givens said the primary contractor hired laborers from Salman Pak to work on the school. The project will cost approximately $220,000.

“We are about three-fourths of the way done on the bottom floor,” Givens said. “The headmaster said she was very happy with the progress of the first floor and she’s happy we chose her school for the project.”

The Zarqua al Yamama girls’ school was a great candidate for renovation, Givens said.

“The school is in the general vicinity of the area we are concentrating on,” he said, adding it was the only one of its kind in Salman Pak.

The structure is in what Givens calls the center of town. It is approximately two blocks away from the Salman Pak hospital and one block from the newly-opened government center. The building is also near the city’s courthouse, fire station and market.

“I believe that if we start in one spot and make that as good as you can, it will spread outward,” Givens said.

Givens has more projects pending approval. Out of 10 projects proposed by the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Givens said eight are aimed to improve Salman Pak.

The 1-15 Inf. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd BCT, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.