By By SPIROS GALLOS / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Construction crews worked hard to complete a number of renovations to Brandywine schools before classes start in two weeks.
Merritt Elementary School is getting a new wing, adding classrooms, Brandywine Elementary School will have 13 classrooms renovated when school starts, and Brandywine Middle/High School will have 12 classrooms renovated by the time school starts.
Renovations began in early May of 2004 and are scheduled to be completed by December of 2005, according to Gus Damaske, Brandywine Public Schools director of finance.
Merritt Elementary will be getting a new wing to replace its "California" wing which was torn down at the beginning of May.
A California wing is one where the classrooms are not connected to a hall, they exit outside, Damaske said.
Damaske said steel for the wing should be set before classes begin. The wing is scheduled to be completed by January of 2005.
Four classrooms will be renovated before classes begin and four new classrooms will be completed by Nov. 1. The roof is also being repaired.
Brandywine Elemetary School is renovating 17 classrooms, 13 which will be ready the first day of classes, four will be ready by Jan. 1 of 2005, the media center, and the school kitchen.
Brandywine Middle/Senior High School will have 12 classrooms renovated by the time classes begin, 1 brand new classroom completed Oct. 1, eight renovated by Jan. 1, five renovated by the end of the 2004-05 school year, another 12 renovated by December of 2005 as well as the media center and two new classrooms.
Construction will continue through the school year.
Brandywine Public School superintendent Gary Rider is pleased with the progress of the renovations.
Brandywine Public Schools will hold its first full day of school for grades K through 12 Tuesday, Sept. 7, with a regular full-day schedule.
Merritt Elementary classes will begin at 8:30 a.m. for morning kindergarten through second grade. Morning kindergarten will let out at 11:35 a.m. and afternoon kindergarten starts at 12:10 p.m. Afternoon kindergarten through second grade will be dismissed at 3:15 p.m.
Meal prices will be $1.20 for breakfast and $1.90 for lunch for each student.
Brandywine Elementary classes will run from 8:40 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. Meal prices will be $1.20 for breakfast and $1.90 for lunch for each student.
Brandywine Middle/ Senior High School classes will run from 7:40 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. Meal prices will be $1.20 for breakfast and $2.10 for lunch for each student.
Schdules will be available for students on the first day of classes in their home rooms.
Bell Education Center alternative education classes will run from 8:13 a.m. to 2:37 p.m. Adult education classes begin at 12:00 p.m. and run to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Fridays, classes run from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Rider is excited for the upcoming school year.