Hearing Set On Woodsdale Elementary School Project
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WHEELING -- Woodsdale Elementary School has a major construction project in its future, and it's expected to result in even more parking and traffic challenges for the surrounding neighborhood.
A community hearing to discuss the issues surrounding the school construction is set for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 12 in the current school cafeteria. An expanded cafeteria is among the work planned for Woodsdale Elementary.
The school already deals with considerable traffic at the end of each school day, as two lanes of Poplar Avenue next to the school property -- as well as the alley behind the school building -- are closed to accommodate those in cars coming to pick up students.
There is little parking available in the area near the school, and even less space for construction crews to put their staging areas.
"Plans will be discussed at the meeting," Principal Ashlea Minch said.
"We will talk about the upcoming bond work, and prepare the community for the construction.”
In addition to a new cafeteria space, the school’s interior will get a new layout and flow.
"They’re basically gutting the inside and rebuilding classrooms,"Minch said. Further details will be explained during the community hearing.
Sean Doyle, field representative for McKinley and Associates, updated Ohio County Board of Education members this week on the construction plan for Woodsdale Elementary School.
The project will soon go out to bid, with plans to start after the first of the year.
He acknowledged the Woodsdale Elementary work would be the most challenging still remaining among items to be paid for through a $42.2 million bond issue passed by voters in 2018. Not only does it require extensive planning, but needed construction materials must be ordered as soon as possible.
Wait times for building supplies can be as long as six months, according to Doyle.
“Projects that are bidding in the next month or two still might be in a compromise to start summer construction,” he explained.
Thomas Wippenbeck, regional manager of architectural services with McKinley and Associates, said space was “tight” inside the school building and the available outside property.
“There are challenges there, but we are working on a phasing plan with Principal Minch and how we can move the people around the building,” he told board members. “I think we’ve got a pretty good idea.”
They said work will begin inside Woodsdale Elementary when the students and teachers leave for Christmas break. Demolition will take place, and contractors will come in and start setting up partitions for temporary classrooms.
“When they come back on Jan. 3, they will be out of a specific part of the building and we can start work in those rooms,” Wippenbeck said.
Construction trailers likely will be placed in the parking area near the playground, he said. The fence there will separate the children from the construction area. There also is some grassy space available on the Poplar Avenue side of the school where some materials can be placed.
“It’s tight, so we’re really going to have to be scheduling what comes and sequencing how that happens,” Wippenbeck said.