A final schematic design can be expected by early February, he said.
District voters last March approved an $87 million bond levy for constructing the new school off North Hyatt Street on land between the existing Middle School and L.T. Ball Intermediate School. The district sold $78 million in construction bonds in September.
The plan so far calls for a three-story structure with grades K-2 on the first floor, grades 3-5 on the second floor and grades six through eight on the third floor.
Each floor will include classrooms, flexible learning spaces and support areas. The building also features two full-size gymnasiums, an east side entrance and a school safety office. The district is working with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission on the building project.
Among top goals are providing spaces that foster student growth, innovation and staff collaboration and creating “a sense of community” in the building, Moran said.
“Making sure it (building) is safe for students and staff is paramount,” Angie McMurry, board of education member, said during a Dec. 17 building project update for the board.
Board member Kyle Thompson said he liked the flexibility proposed in concept plans. “I am happy with it,” he said.
While the board at earlier public meetings heard some concerns about having kindergarten students and older students interacting in the same building, board members said the building design allows for a separation but also for older students to join with younger ones in planned activities.
The layout is designed to be flexible as educational needs change in the future.
One project change is elimination of the need for moving the tennis courts from the North Hyatt Street site. Keeping the courts in their current location will save around $880,000.
L.T.Ball, the district’s current Intermediate building will remain on the site. Nevin Coppock Elementary and the Middle School will be demolished as part of the project. The future added uses of L.T. Ball continue to be explored including becoming the home of the Board of Education office. Those offices now are located in a separate building on South Tippecanoe Drive.
Discussions at the Dec. 18 public meeting on included plans for the cafeteria serving lines.
The Board of Education has hired Ken Moorman of Versailles as the owners’ representative for the construction projects and Garmann Miller as project architects.
More public presentations/discussions are planned in the new year including Jan. 8 from 9-10 a.m. at Chaffee’s Brewhouse downtown; Jan. 14 at Tipp City Global Methodist Church downtown from 6-7 p.m.; and Jan. 16 from 6-7 p.m. at the Tipp City Public Library, also downtown.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com
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