GIRARD Options concerning pupils weighed

An architect favors shifting Prospect Elementary School pupils out of the building during construction.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- The city school board has not decided where to locate Prospect Elementary School pupils while the building gets a make over.
Board member Jane Harris said Wednesday that no decisions have been made.
Bids will be sought in May to install a new heating and air conditioning system, add a fire sprinkler system and build three additional classrooms.
Work that will take 12 to 18 months is expected to begin in July. The project is being funded by the Ohio School Facilities Commission.
"It's not going to be a hasty decision," Harris said at the board meeting Wednesday.
One plan calls for the school's nearly 500 pupils to move out of Prospect into the intermediate school, which will be reopened by then.
Intermediate pupils currently attending classes at Tod Woods School would remain there during the remodeling of Prospect.
Other options: Another plan calls for some pupils to move into the intermediate school, while some remain at Prospect.
Superintendent Joseph Shoaf said he is looking at other buildings in which to move the pupils, including the Mahoning Country Club.
Jack O'Connell, representing the Western Reserve Building Trades Council, told the board Wednesday that the trades are willing to do the work during a second shift without premium pay after pupils leave the building.
In this way, O'Connell explained, there will be no crossing of construction workers and pupils.
Tim Thomas of Riccuiti, Balog and Partners Architects of Youngstown told the board that he favors moving all the pupils out of Prospect during construction because it will shorten the length of the project and make certain that construction and educational activities will not cross.
Other options include using modular trailers as classrooms.
Other matters: In other business, the board approved three-year contracts beginning Aug. 1 for Sandra Dorchock, cafeteria manager, and Ronald Ragozine, assistant high school principal.
Robert J. Foley received a one-year contract as junior high school principal.
The board also accepted the retirement of Anne L. Lymber as high school physical education/health teacher. She has worked for the district for 27 years.
Board member Jamie DeVore asked anyone interested in working on the levy committee to contact Shoaf or a board member.
The board has placed the renewal of a 4.1-mill emergency operating levy on the May primary ballot. The levy generates $543,000 annually.
yovich@vindy.com