ASHLAND – With back-to-school season just around the corner, Ashland City Schools leaders are feeling the crunch to finish up summer construction projects.
Restroom, office and security upgrades are underway at Taft and Edison schools, and air conditioning is being added at Taft. Supt. Doug Marrah said he would like to see the work done well before the first day of school Aug 27.
“They’re really moving along, and we keep reminding them the elementary teachers like to be in early,” Marrah told board of education members during a meeting Monday. “So they know that, and they are working Saturdays and (overtime) hours to get that work done for us, but we’re looking good right now.”
School board members approved a change order with Simonson Construction to add building door access controls and door activity monitors at both Taft and Edison at a price not to exceed $86,354.
“It was a priority this summer to make sure our buildings were as secure as possible, and we’ve been working with Simonson on the projects that are going on to add that,” business manager Robert Knabe said.
Marrah said the district began transitioning to a key fob system a few years ago and plans to have key fob access at all buildings early this school year. This is just one of several steps the district is taking to improve school security, he said.
Grandstand renovations at Community Stadium should be done in about three weeks, but Marrah indicated the Arrows may need a plan B for scrimmages if the grandstand is not ready for fans. Adena Corporation is completing the work on that project.
Another major project this summer has been the Wertman-Ferguson property on Mifflin Avenue, which Knabe said has undergone bathroom, kitchen and window updates and received new signage. The property recently was donated to the district and was used as an outdoor learning center for camps this summer.
Board members voted to hire VSWC Architects from Mason, Ohio, to begin preliminary work on a planned renovation project at the high school.
The project will include cafeteria renovations, science room renovations, building-wide air conditioning and a transformation of the library into a collaborative learning space. The timeline for the project has not yet been determined, but work likely will be spread over two to three summers.
At a cost of $10,000, VSWC will conduct a preliminary project evaluation and assist with establishment of a budget and schedule. The board also agreed to pay VSWC a fee of up to 2 percent of the renovation cost for design build services, though Marrah said the design/build delivery format may change. Such a change would require a new board action to modify the fee structure for a design/bid/build or construction manager at-risk format.
Board member Bryan Lefelhoc, who serves on the board’s buildings and grounds committee and has been active in recent new facilities construction projects, said he is pleased to again be working with VSWC. The firm served as architects for the district’s middle school, Reagan Elementary, Archer Auditorium and Central Office projects.
“We’ve been working with VSWC for many projects now, and very well, but that doesn’t mean we hire them every time,” he said. “We go through the process each time… I just wanted to share that they didn’t mail this one in, and I told them that in the middle of the meeting. They actively sought our our business and put together a great presentation.”
Marrah also announced open house and back-to-school night dates and times, which are as follows:
- Ashland Middle School – Sixth-grade open house, 6-7:30 p.m., Aug 16; seventh-grade open house, 6-7:30 p.m., Aug. 20; eighth-grade open house, 6-7:30, Aug. 21
- Ashland High School – Open house, 6:30-8 p.m., Aug. 23.
- Taft Intermediate School – Fourth grade back-to-school night, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Aug 22; fifth grade back-to-school night, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Aug 23
- Edison and Reagan elementary schools – K-3 back-to-school night, 6-7 p.m., Aug. 23.
