The Hanover School Board voted Monday to have town voters determine the fate of a $4 million proposal to renovate the Bernice A. Ray Elementary School in a special School Board district meeting June 8.
"Between now and then we need to do everything we can to get information we have that calls us to support this project to the community," Hanover School Board Chaiwoman Debra Grabill said.
The proposed renovations, designed by Hanover Architect Gregory Hemberger, include adding six classrooms and a regulation size gymnasium, as well as improving the roof, library, and school kitchen, Ray School Principal Loretta Murphy said. The Ray School is located on Reservoir Road across from the College's Day Care Center.
Despite backing the renovations, some of the Board members at last night's meeting expressed hesitations about the amount of money needed.
Board member Steven Rosov said he could not "see an area that's easy to lop off one-half million," the Valley News reported. He said he would leave the decision up to the taxpayers.
If town voters back the proposal at the special school district meeting in June, construction would begin this summer and be completed by Sept. 1995.
"If we want our children to be ready for the 21st century, we need to go in this direction," Murphy said.
The funding for the project would come from a bond and would not impact town taxes until 1995, Murphy said.
A steady increase in enrollment since the mid-1980s forced the Ray School officials to create the Facilities Planning committee, a group of School Board members, parents, teachers and community residents charged with evaluating the condition of the school.
The committee hired Pennsylvania consultants familiar with educational building needs to evaluate the Ray School one year ago. The committee reported that the school was using its space to the maximum level but the new space was needed to accommodate the number of students enrolled, Murphy said.
The Ray School currently enrolls 490 students, an increase of 83 students over the past five years, Murphy said. The renovations would accommodate 600 students.
The school's current gym is not regulation size - teachers have had to instruct gym classes using carpeted areas in the center of the school. The proposed gym will also create more music space and would contain a stage that could be used for school functions.
The renovations would create a regulation size cafeteria to accommodate more students.
The new classrooms, which would add about 5,640 square feet to the school, would replace two portable classrooms that were installed two years ago.
"I certainly hope that this is going to happen, we really need it," Murphy said. "It's an excellent design to meet the needs of the school."
