- Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 June 2014 20:26
By Paul Chasko
The Ringgold School Board recently received approval for their plan to add six permanent classrooms to the Ringgold Elementary School North (RESN) in Gastonville.
The planning and approval cycle is complex and approval has been granted by The PA Department of Education, the Washington County Planning Commission, the Union Township Planning Commission and, finally, by the Union Township Board of Supervisors.
The final step in the approval cycle was a presentation to the Union Township Board at their June 9th meeting. Representatives of the architectural firm (HHSDR) along with representatives of Ringgold's Administration were on hand to present the planning drawings to the Board. The Board approved the plan 3/0, as two members were absent from the meeting.
The plan calls for the addition of six new classrooms, boys and girls restrooms and a new kitchen. Total cost for the project has a ceiling of $4,676,690 with the possibility that the final cost will be below that figure. The scheduled completion date is August 15, 2015. Some of the construction work will be ongoing during the 2014/2015 school year. Disruption to the classes is expected to be minimal.
The addition will be at the rear of the existing building and will consume a small part of the existing Playground area. There are presently no plans to remove the existing six "trailer classrooms" now in use. Mr. Randall Skrinjorich, Ringgold Director of Operations and Financial Services, believes it likely that they will remain in place at least until a new middle school is built.
