LEXINGTON – About 100 people clad in red showed up before Wednesday's meeting of the Lexington Board of Education.
Most of them were teachers. Patrick Cannon, president of the union representing the teachers, said the move was a show of solidarity.
"Members are showing their support for our negotiations team," he said.
More: Lexington school board members get caught up on new building project
The teachers lined the steps leading to the board room and the hallways extending past it. No one entered the meeting room and everyone left after the meeting started.
Cannon declined to comment on the status of negotiations. The contract for teachers expired Aug. 31.
"We're working on it," Superintendent Jeremy Secrist said after the meeting.
Board vice president Keith Stoner said negotiations started only last month, delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
More: Lexington school board gets update on building project
During the meeting, board members heard a lengthy presentation from representatives from the architect and construction company on the status of the forthcoming grade 7-12 building.
"The goal is to present the exterior design of the building," said Scott Alleman, project manager and one of the representatives from ThenDesign Architecture, out of Willoughby.
He talked about a switchback ramp, which will provide handicapped access to the lower fields on a gradual slope.
"We wanted more access and something even closer," Secrist said.
The superintendent said the switchback ramp has a zigzag design because the grade is steep. The estimated cost of the ramp is between $50,000 and $75,000.
In addition, the project will include three additional parking spots for handicapped people.
Another point of emphasis during the presentation was the access road to the baseball, softball and practice fields. The original road made turning left onto Ohio 546 difficult.
The access road will be extended and will be 24 feet wide for two lanes.
Alleman and Andy Lowther, project manager and a representative from Shook Construction, went over the entries to the high school and junior high.
Board members talked about what bricks they liked and didn't like. Member Rob Schuster questioned the word "entrance" above the front doors of the high school, saying it looked like a hospital emergency room.
President Robert Whitney asked about the roof, which will feature a low slope.
"You should get 20 years before you have to do anything on the roof," Lowther said.
Alleman fielded a question about the glass in the building, saying it would not be bulletproof, which he said would be "substantially more expensive."
"The glass would stop a hammer or someone trying to break in using the butt of a gun," Alleman said.
He also reviewed a proposed canopy over a courtyard in the school. Alleman said a "low-end estimate" would be $950,000.
Schuster asked if there would be any more community meetings, noting they stopped because of the pandemic.
"I think it's beyond important to have some input from the people who are footing the bill," he said.
Read more: Does your school district have COVID-19 cases? Ohio releases numbers
In other business, the board:
• Met Sydnee Detlef, the student representative to the board for the 2020-2021 school year.
• Met in executive session for just under an hour without taking action.
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
Twitter: @MNJCaudill
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