EAST RIDGE ELEMENTARY* 120,000 square feet* Start date: July 2009* Projected completion: Aug. 1, 2010
Blueprints and floor plans are taped to the walls of East Ridge Elementary School’s main hallway.
A sketch of the facade of a new school sits in the front office — a constant reminder of the bigger, better building being built next door.
Last July, construction began on a facility that would combine East Ridge and McBrien elementary schools. The new school — also called East Ridge Elementary — is going up right behind the current East Ridge Elementary, and is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 1.
“Unusual rainfall has put us a little behind, but we’re pretty much on schedule,” said Gary Waters, Hamilton County Schools’ associate superintendent of auxiliary services.
The 120,000-square-foot building is about 45 percent complete, Mr. Waters said. The fourth- and fifth-grade wings of the building already are up, and on Monday workers were pouring the concrete foundation for the kindergarten wing.
As soon as this school year is over, the current elementary school will be demolished and made into a parking lot for the new building.
East Ridge Principal Sharon Watts, who recently was named head of the combined school, said construction of the new building has been minimally disruptive.
Since the students’ large playground in back of the school is a construction site, the district fenced in the front yard of the building to be used for recess. Parking now is limited, so parent-teacher association meetings are being held at McBrien.
Teachers even are taking advantage of the project and incorporating construction terminology into lesson plans. The building’s architect has come to the school several times to talk with students about what is happening, Ms. Watts said.
“He’s come in and talked to them about why they need to do well in their math and their reading,” she said.
Aside from fifth-graders who are a little bummed they’ll miss out on the new school, everyone on campus is excited about their new building.
Instructional assistant Kara Young may have let her excitement get away from her.
“I’m waiting for the big swimming pool,” she joked. “I just know (Ms. Watts) is going to put a big red bow on it.”