By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

Schnecksville Elementary students and personnel had an opportunity to experience the new building addition before the end of this year’s school term.

Four kindergarten classes, four first grades, and two special needs groups relocated from an older portion of the school to the new wing this spring.

The office, nurse’s suite, and guidance department also occupied the new quarters.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rod Troutman reported the recently completed wing will include space for the literacy center or library, Title I intervention and enrichment, a reading specialist, emotional support and STEM, science, technology, engineering, and math.

Troutman noted three specially designed instructional rooms are situated in the new annex.

He said classes and the office were moved out of the original portion of the building to prepare for demolition after the school term ended.

Superintendent Dr. Mark Madson stated workers involved in the project plan to save the entranceway from the oldest section and incorporate it in a new park setting on the site.

Although the year 1926 is inscribed on the archway, district personnel have noted records indicate the year was 1929.

When the building project was presented to the board in 2019, advantages in favor of the proposal included bringing the school up to code compliance for accessibility, removal of asbestos from remaining areas, meeting future needs for increased enrollment and programming, and solving traffic issues on the site through new patterns for buses and people dropping off or picking up their children.

Total project cost was estimated in 2019 as $14.1 million for the new section, including demolition of the 1920s portion.

The district has also been working on interior renovations and improvements to the 1960s and 1970s sections of the school for a projected cost of $9.1 million in the 2019 presentation.

Completion of the indoor work, the west parking lot, and the courtyard is anticipated by December 2022.

Dr. Troutman commented on the Schnecksville building endeavor.

“We’re trending under budget and ahead of schedule.”

Director of Community Relations Nicole McGalla reports costs have come down since the original presentation and could continue to change as work is still ongoing.