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Supt. briefs local residents |
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Thursday, 26 March 2009 |
By ANGELA WEAVER
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — A local superintendent kicked off her monthly community updates Wednesday night, bringing residents up to speed on the district’s construction projects.
St. Marys City Schools Superintendent Mary Riepenhoff began the 7 p.m. presentation at the District Service Center, 1445 Celina Road, reminding residents they can not enter the construction sites on their own.
“Gilbane’s construction managers will boast the safety on the site,” she said, adding that the workers are to wear 100 percent eyewear, gloves and hard hats. “You can’t go and walk into the construction zone — you have to be escorted.”
For residents who are interested in a site visit, they can contact the district office’s and one of the safety-trained officials will escort them, Riepenhoff said. She added that once the project reaches 25 percent completion, they will begin to offer scheduled site tours.
Riepenhoff then showed the residents the pictures of the construction at the East and West Elementary sites and the site of the high school-middle school from March 3, March 17 and March 24. The pictures, which are taken periodically by Business Manager Kurt Kuffner, are also available on the district’s Web site www.smriders.net.
“The projected move-in date is Sept. 7, 2010,” Riepenhoff said of the new grades six-to-12 building, adding that the total estimated project cost is under budget.
Because of the lower cost, the building will also include a few alternates — a light bronze metal roof, a cupola that is co-funded with the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission, a volleyball system that comes down from the ceiling, an upgraded weight room floor, an upgraded gymnasium floor and a shelter-in-place hookup that is co-funded by the OSFC and paid for by Homeland Security.
“It’s for in the event of a community disaster occurred,” she said, adding that the local fire, police and EMS departments were involved in the development of the hookup.
The building’s geothermal loops and mechanical deck also were co-funded by the OSFC, Riepenhoff said.
Throughout the building process, Riepenhoff said the district also has received help from local organizations, including donations from Murotech, Kiwanis, Rotary, Optimist Club, Masonic Lodge and Knights of Columbus.
“The VFW and American Legion are working with us on the flags,” she said. “I would like us to have flags at each entry and a flag in the Commons area.”
Riepenhoff also stressed the moving that will be going on inside the buildings in addition to the construction process.
“Even though the building is moving on the outside, we’re also moving the district on the inside,” she said.
Riepenhoff had a list of items that would be developed during the process that included consistency, an intake and outtake program, first week class meetings, transition planning and middle school teaming.
She also mentioned the upcoming levy renewal.
“It is a renewal of the levy passed in ‘04,” Riepenhoff said, adding that the levy is for approximately $1.8 million. “It won’t cost you any more than it’s cost you in the past.”
She noted that the levy is not tied to the cost of the building projects and only covers the operations of the district such as personnel, utilities and maintenance.
The community updates are scheduled for 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month at the DSC with the next one being April 15. The next St. Marys Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. April 14 at the city building.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 April 2009 )
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