The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Architects present elementary site schematic
A presentation from GPD Group showed schematics for a new elementary school in Amherst, on June 19.
Rodwell King, design manager, and Aaron Rodebaugh, project manager, of GPD Group in Akron, described how the project at the Harris Elementary site evolved at 393 S. Lake St. in Amherst.
Speaking with staff and citizens gave designers good direction toward meeting community expectations for the new building, King said.
The group toured two schools – New Albany and West Muskingum – to gather ideas for the building, said King.
Several versions of the site design enabled them to evolve into a design others could rally around, Rodebaugh said.
The first design placed the building in a lower corner, but they felt it was too close to neighboring houses, Rodebaugh said, so they moved the building closer to the junior high building in the second design.
The third option enabled both the elementary and junior high to use the same bus routes, Rodebaugh said.
GPD Group recommended the third option to the district, he said. Even so, much work is to be done.
“Moving forward from the site design we started working on the building,” Rodebaugh said. They’re working with Superintendent Steve Sayers and the principal for ideas on classroom spaces, he said.
“This is still in development. Things are very much in flex right now as we get feedback,” Rodebaugh said.
The abatement of hazardous materials from the demolition sites of Harris and Powers elementary schools begins soon, Rodebaugh said.
Further next steps include meeting with a group of teachers in a couple of weeks for more input for schematic design, King said.
“We’ve already started talking to the superintendent about possible ideas for ground breaking,” King said. “That could start fairly soon. We’ve already been talking about an early site package we can do a ground breaking kind of September-ish, October.”
Amherst School Board member Bob Kamnikar asked if anyone has talked with the neighbors about the plans.
King said they have not talked with neighbors yet. They intend to hold a community meeting at the junior high when plans are more solid.
In other action, the school board hired Jill Jiovanazzo as principal of Nord Middle School with a two-year contract.
She worked as a secondgrade teacher in Avon.
Jiovanazzo is a Steele graduate who attended Nord when it was a junior high.
Nord Principal Bill Miller resigned effective July 31.