2. Preferred Alternatives

The current roof with its foam overlay coating is approaching its lifespan and is due for a full system replacement. The new roof will be an insulated metal panel system that matches the existing roof closely in appearance.  The new roof will provide superior insulation and is expected to provide the district with another 50 years of service.  

Option E1 includes a small building addition to connect the preschool rooms with the main school building. This increases student safety by consolidating visitor entry into one point and improves student comfort, especially when there is bad weather. This corridor addition will involve interior renovation in the main elementary school building to connect the addition to the corridor in the main building.

The courtyard is currently underutilized because of its poor appearance, lack of shade and poor features to support outdoor education. By improving the environment, teachers and students will have access to a great outdoor classroom as outdoor exposure is vital to a well rounded educational experience.

New education models embrace flexibility. When students have the ability to make simple choices about how they learn, or when teachers have the option of expanding the learning environment, the entire class will benefit. The flexible learning spaces provide room for project based learning as well as small and large group break-out. These areas can also bring students from different classrooms together for collaboration and teamwork giving teachers more space and more options.

Current vehicle traffic is all combined into one small, crowded area for student pick up and drop off. By separating bus traffic and personal vehicles, we reduce the risk of an accident, facilitate traffic flow and prioritize student safety.

The existing elementary school gym is oversized for current elementary use because it was designed as the primary gym for a K-12 school. Now that the secondary school has a dedicated gym, some of the elementary school gym space can be re-purposed to meet educational space needs. The proposed modifications remove one side of the gym's bleachers to provide space for other educational functions.

The current roof with its foam overlay coating is approaching its lifespan and is due for a full system replacement. The new roof will be an insulated metal panel system that matches the existing roof closely in appearance.  The new roof will provide superior insulation and is expected to provide the district with another 50 years of service.  

Option E2.2 includes an addition around the existing preschool building. This addition would create an office, restrooms, storage, and an enclosed corridor to connect the preschool rooms to the main school building.

Current preschool capacity is short of the demand. Another preschool service in Ridgway closed its doors leaving the school to absorb those children as well. Adding a third preschool room would bridge the gap between supply of spots and demand in the community. In addition to a third room, we also propose a small building addition to connect the preschool rooms with the main school building. This increases student safety and comfort, especially when there is bad weather.

The current elementary school entrance does not provide the access control that we have come to expect from 21st century schools. By redefining the entry process and implementing simple security procedures, the student population will be vastly more secure.  The front office area will be consolidated into a single suite allowing school administrators to better communicate and work together.  The reconfigured office will have better visibility to the front of the school and the school clinic as well as connections to interior educational spaces.  

The southern, 1972 portion of the elementary school maintains the original exterior windows and doors. Window and door products have become much more energy efficient and durable since the 1970s and the proposed replacement will lead to a more efficient building that saves energy and is also more comfortable in extreme hot and cold temperatures.

The courtyard is currently underutilized because of its poor appearance, lack of shade and poor features to support outdoor education. By improving the environment, teachers and students will have access to a great outdoor classroom as outdoor exposure is vital to a well rounded educational experience.

Option E2.2 includes an addition on to the building at the existing hallway between the older building to the south and the newer building to the north. This addition would house two 5th grade classrooms and a shared flexible learning space.

Option E2.2 includes replacing the existing corrugated siding with a new exterior cladding. A new, modern exterior appearance will convey the district's commitment to embracing 21st century learning while prioritizing student safety and comfort as well.

A rooftop photovoltaic (PV) array is proposed to be installed on the gymnasium roof.  After installation and an agreement with the local utility provider, the district's utility costs will go down as the PV array produces clean, renewable energy for the secondary school. A PV array reduces energy use and can be incorporated into educational curriculum to enrich student learning.

The secondary school roof is nearing its effective life and should be planned for replacement. The secondary school roof replacement will be a membrane roof assembly to match the existing roofing.  With the high cost of full roofing systems, this project would best be completed as part of a larger capital project as opposed to a regular maintenance project.  For this reason it is proposed as part of a potential bond project.

The community has struggled with the poor acoustic and sound quality in the existing auditorium since it was initially constructed. The proposed improvements include passive acoustic panel treatments to improve the reverberation time and other important acoustic properties of the space. The partitions around the auditorium will be upgraded to isolate the performance space from adjacent rooms. There will be a new projector, LED performance lights, complete sound system, and control booth.  The proposed improvments allow the district to effectively use this performance space for years to come.

The secondary school does not have a dedicated practice facility for track and field events. A 200 meter long practice track would enable district athletes to practice within their community to be better prepared for competition. Because of property size, and lack of another suitable site, a full 400 meter track is not possible; however, the proposed track provides the essential practice space the district needs.