Jim Keiffer, senior project manager at KCBA Architects, presented an overview of the Schnecksville Elementary School improvement project to the board during the Dec. 17, 2019, meeting.

“This scheme provides all the spaces the district needs for its program, “ Keiffer explained.

The new addition will have a STEM center (science, technology, engineering and math), a literacy center (library), and a bathroom adjacent to every kindergarten and first-grade room, the architect said.

“We will build the ideal educational program space comparable to other schools in the district,” Keiffer said.

Except for the 1926 portion which will be removed, all the existing rooms will be renovated and will receive a new roof.

Students will continue having classes while the work is ongoing but will be repositioned to other spaces.

The timetable specifies going out for bids in February, awarding bids in April, and starting construction in May for the renovation phase which should take about a year.

The cost of this portion is anticipated to be $9.1 million.

Bids for the second phase, the new addition and demolition of the 1926 building, will go out in January 2021.

This phase is expected to cost $14.1 million.

Superintendent Richard Sniscak explained the school will have a new entrance on the southwest section of the campus.

Buses will have a loop on the west side and will stop at the new entrance to pick up and drop off students.

Parents will use Spring Hill Drive to curve around the east part of the campus to pick up or drop off their children at the gymnasium entrance.

Keiffer reported the improvement project with the new construction and renovation will bring all areas up to code compliance, will meet future capacity and program needs, will solve traffic issues on the site, and will be ready for the start of school in 2022.