Board views updates at Hills Elementary
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MINGO JUNCTION -- Indian Creek school board members got a glimpse of ongoing updates to Hills Elementary School following the regular meeting on Thursday.
Assistant Superintendent John Belt guided the tour and noted progress was being made in the $10 million renovation project included in the district's main construction plan. In addition to Hills' upgrades, two new buildings are going up to replace Indian Creek High School and Wintersville Elementary as part of the overall $63 million project, and the sites should be ready for the 2021-22 school year with the older school buildings to be demolished that spring.
Belt led board members through unfinished areas and remodeled classrooms to denote how the building will look once work is completed next year.
"We purchased furniture for rooms at Hills and the high school to get feedback," Belt said.
He added that the classes will have interactive smartboards with touchscreens and modern furniture, plus rooms will have large, floor-to-ceiling windows to bolster natural light and audiovisual equipment with units to project the teachers' voices. Additionally, a ramp was added to the cafeteria to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and new walls were added in the kitchen area. Other improvements range from new roofing, electrical work and plumbing to HVAC and security updates. More details include relocating the main office to the former library for a better view of visitors while the entrance also boasts a secure vestibule for added protection.
Board members were impressed with the work so far and eagerly await when the building is finished.
"This will be like a brand-new building," said board member Kim Mark.
On a related note, Belt said the student-signed I-beams were installed at the new high school while staircases to the second floor of the new Cross Creek Elementary School site were set.
"We are on track to button up that building and produce heat in January," he commented.
Superintendent T.C. Chappelear recognized Belt for actively documenting progress online with regular Facebook posts of the projects.
Among other matters:
¯ Chappelear lauded efforts to maintain students' education throughout the first semester. The district recently moved toward remote learning for the last week of classes prior to the holiday break with hopes to return on Jan. 4. The board also approved changes to its 2020-21 remote learning plan to allow flexibility in determining the method of instructional delivery independent of the county's color indicator levels;
¯ The board accepted the resignation of Rose Pickford, a first-grade teacher at Hills, who will retire on June 1 after 26 years of service;
¯ Kim Mark was re-appointed as a representative on the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School board;
¯ Officials hired Brandy Harabedian as a fifth-grade teacher at Indian Creek Middle School under a one-year contract effective Dec. 9. Angela Bell was also named as cook/cashier at WES effective Dec. 18;
¯ Matt Arlia resigned as freshman boys' basketball coach and was named varsity assistant boys' basketball coach for the 2020-21 school year;
¯ The organizational meeting was set for6 p.m., Jan. 14 at ICMS with board President Daniel Bove to serve as pro tempore.