Ephrata campus facelifts move forward
From left to right: Thomas Kirk of Fowler Construction, Ephrata School District Superintendent Tim Payne, Ephrata School Board Members Bill Correll and Anita Waller, Grant Elementary Principal Shannon Dahl and Ephrata School District Director of Special Services Jamie Bessette toured campuses under renovation last Wednesday to see the status of work at those sites.
COURTESY PHOTO/EPHRATA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Renovations to Ephrata Middle School include improvements to security such as a vestibule at the main entrance that better controls access to the building to ensure student and staff safety.
Classrooms at Columbia Ridge Elementary and Ephrata Middle School come equipped with traditional whiteboards as well as digital Promethean screens that enable teachers to use multimedia tools to help students engage in learning.
Work is ongoing at the new Ephrata Middle School gymnasium, though much of the building is complete. According to the school district, base capacity for the gym will be 788 people, with additional on-floor seating bringing the number closer to 1,100.
The new gymnasium at Columbia Ridge is ready for students this fall. The gym contains a high school regulation-sized court and seating for 555 in the bleachers.
Columbia Ridge Elementary has a new face to welcome students back when it opens for the fall semester.
EPHRATA – Remodeling work is ongoing at Ephrata Middle School and Columbia Ridge Elementary, according to a press release from the Ephrata School District.
Board members and district staff were able to get together Friday for a tour of the two campuses. Work at EMS includes work on north wing classrooms, renovations to the lunchroom, kitchen, cafeteria, existing gymnasium and a new gym. Students are expected to have access to the new wing of classrooms this fall; however, construction will not be completed at the school until early 2024.
Columbia Ridge’s construction is mostly complete and students will be welcomed into a finished school when classes begin this fall. The district expects to release additional information about the revitalized campus in the near future.
The renewed campuses will feature infrastructure that is easier to maintain and more energy efficient, builders said. They will also include multimedia teaching tools in each classroom, such as Promethean digital whiteboards and traditional whiteboards. Security has been increased in multiple ways, including adding security vestibules to control access to campuses.
A bid process is expected to open soon for similar work at Grant Elementary School to refurbish the facility.
Funding for the projects comes from voter-approved bonds, among other sources.
