Published: December 27, 2007 06:46 pm         

High school begins expansion process

The Zionsville Community Schools Board of Trustees took the first step at its Monday, Dec. 10, meeting to implement high school expansion plans passed in May.

The board approved 5-0 to seek bids to renovate spaces within Zionsville Community High School into new classrooms. The total budget for the project is $2 million. The board should approve a bid at its Jan. 14 meeting, with construction completion planned at the end of May.

The most expensive part of the project is turning a warehouse in the high school into a large classroom for the high school’s multidisciplinary program, ZCS Executive Director of Operations Bob Bostwick said.

Multidisciplinary is a new program, which combines three related subjects in one class taught by three teachers. Students create an individualized topic of study that combines the three subjects.

The renovated space will be used by up to 150 students at one time, and will include a presentation area, a classroom area and an area for small group or individual study.

ZCHS Principal Chris Willis said even if the multidisciplinary program does not grow as he expects, the space could still be used for other types of classes.

The renovation project will also turn a small auditorium into a large group instruction space and small performance area. Bostwick said the auditorium is in poor shape now, and must be renovated to be used as classroom space.

Finally, a maintenance area will be converted into a technology lab. This is optional and could be left off the project to stay under budget.

The only issue raised by the board concerned whether an existing bathroom was close enough to the new multidisciplinary classroom to meet state building code requirements, which state that a restroom must be within 200 feet of a classroom door. The new restroom would cost between $80,000 and $100,000.

“In this age of trying to get more exercise, I don’t think it hurts to walk 187 feet to the restroom,” board member Chip Cravens said.

Board member Jim Longest agreed.

“If we don’t need the restroom, get rid of it,” he said.

A new restroom might be required if the presentation area in the back corner of the room is defined as a separate area by the health inspector, and the bathroom is farther than 200 feet from that point, project manager Allen Cradler said. The 200 feet is measured from the door.

The board decided to approve putting the project out to bid with the condition that the new bathroom be optional, and that Cradler report at the next meeting on whether an additional bathroom is needed to meet code requirements.

     

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