News

July 10, 2009

County OKs Ross school expansion

Planning Commission approves $1.3 million project due to increase in enrollment.

By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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The Luzerne County Planning Commission on Thursday granted conditional approval for the expansion of Lake-Lehman’s Ross Elementary School in Sweet Valley.

School Principal Donald James has said the $1.3 million project is necessary because of a rise in enrollment. Forty more students have been added to the school’s roster in the last five years, raising the total enrollment to about 285.

The district plans to construct four classrooms covering 5,100 square feet, a school bus parking lot and a new playground.

Two of the new rooms will be regular classrooms. The others will be called media rooms and will serve as the new library and computer lab.

The computer room will feature wireless computers and a wide-screen TV, while more books will be added to the library. Both media rooms will have a SMART Board interactive whiteboard and a digital projector.

The media rooms will be separated by a removable wall so that they can be used as one large room, if desired, which James expects will happen for professional development of faculty.

A separate school bus lot will be added on the left side of the school off School House Road. Currently, buses and parents picking up their children have to share the front lot, which is also where faculty members park.

The new playground will be moved farther back from the current one to make room for the additional classrooms. Two swing sets and sliding board may be salvaged from the old playground to be reused. Additions include rock climbing walls and other climbers.

Lake-Lehman School District Buildings and Grounds Director David Madajewski and project architect Sam Scarantino of Quad 3 Group represented the school district at the commission’s hearing.

The board approved the project on standard contingencies such as the school district providing a financial guarantee and obtaining necessary county or state road access permits.

Steve Mocarsky, a Times leader staff writer, may be reached at 970-7311.

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