Wednesday, April 25, 2001
Asbestos abatement will begin this summer.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
MECCA -- Officials in the Maplewood School District are preparing for a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off a $23 million construction project.
Groundbreaking will be from 11 a.m. to noon May 4 at the high school, 2414 Greenville Road N.E.
School officials will join the project construction manager, URS/O'Brien Kreitzberg, with offices in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, for the ceremony.
The district has accepted bids for the project, which is expected to be completed by January 2003.
The Ohio School Facilities Commission is giving the district $23 million to make improvements. Voters approved a 3.898-mill bond issue to raise the $2.8 million local share needed for the project.
More than 100,000 square feet are to be added at the district's three schools -- Maplewood North Elementary in Greene, Maplewood East Elementary in Johnston and the junior-senior high school in Mecca.
To be added: Improvements include additional classroom space and new cafeterias at the three schools. A new gymnasium is planned for East and renovations will be made to music rooms and computer and science labs.
When construction is complete, officials say there will be one primary school, one middle school and a high school.
Superintendent Timothy Compan said the project may be a little ahead of schedule, as asbestos abatement is to begin this summer.
Asbestos contractors reviewed district buildings and found that abatement some years ago left little asbestos behind, Compan said.
Primary areas where asbestos has been found are heating pipes, ceilings and floor tiles, and about 85 percent of tiles in the high school floor contain the substance.
School officials and contractors will meet soon to discuss specifics of construction, and how the district will accommodate summer programs, classes and sports activities, the superintendent added.