When the new Johnson Elementary School began construction and conversation for the layout of the space that would be left by removal of the existing school began, education officials thought some of the current structure could be salvaged.

 

Bridgeport High School Principal Mark DeFazio and Assistant Principal Matt DeMotto joined in on the conversation that the new addition near the visitor’s side of Wayne Jamison Field could potentially be used as a future locker room or transferred into a weight room. On Wednesday, there was a change in plans.

 

During a meeting to discuss the status of the Johnson Elementary project that involved Harrison County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Manchin,  Board of Education President Gary Hamrick, JES Assistant Principal Heather Holbert, officials with McKinley & Associates, the school board office and Contractor City Construction, DeFazio was contacted and asked to come over.

 

The reason was that discussion switched to possibly converting the still relatively new library into a weight room or some other facility. The discussion occurred when those involved began to determine the issues that the back building would create.

 

City Construction’s Beau Henderson pointed out that the back building had four load bearing walls. It was also learned that the building closest to Jamison Field would need a new HVAC installed along with flood plain issues that would have to be addressed.

 

“There are a lot of different factors involved that just don’t make this feasible,” said Manchin. “ … It just becomes too cost prohibitive to demo a relatively new part of a building, but I think given all that we’ve discussed with the professionals it’s just not possible.”

 

The library is possible. However, one huge issue arose and it’s something that will likely scuttle it from being used as well. The issue is that it would eliminate a lot of much-needed parking space and stand alone in the middle of a future parking lot.

 

“We’re asking the architect to look at it and the feasibility of just leaving that,” said Manchin. “Given the proximity and location, smack in the middle of a parking lot, it’s a problem. You’ve heard from Mr. DeFazio and others, myself included, that parking is at a premium and leaving that would eliminate a lot of spaces, maybe 20 or 30 … If there’s a way to allow us to utilize that building that would be great, but right now it doesn’t look like we’ll be able to utilize anything.”

 

DeFazio said that he understood the situation and that it’s back to square one.

 

“I understand the chances to use either does not look good, and that’s the best case,” DeFazio. “The library would have been good for a new weight room or facility, but it’s just right there in the middle in an area where parking is at such a premium.

 

“Unless something changes, we’re back to where we were,” he continued. “We’ll wait to see what they tell us and we’ll do what Dr. Manchin says we can do. Whatever happens, the important thing is that we understand.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows BHS Principal Mark DeFazio listening to information regarding the library space at Wednesday's meeting, while bottom photo shows Dr. Mark Manchin, far left, with BOE staff talking about - and coming out of - the relatively new addition on the back of the existing Johnson Elementary School.