BETHEL — A districtwide construction project takes shape next week when work begins on additions to two schools.

        Construction begins on the William Bick Elementary and Bethel-Tate Middle School buildings. Work on a new high school begins in March.

        The entire project, to be completed by 2002-03, will take the Bethel-Tate School District from three buildings to four.

        Once the new high school is completed, a domino effect occurs. The current high school becomes a middle school with grades 6 to 8. The middle school becomes an intermediate building with grades 3 to 5, and the elementary school will house grades K-2. The district has 2,000 students.

        “We're starting to see the growth out here that's been more common to the west,” said Superintendent Jim Smith. “This project will double our square footage. It just shows how cramped we've been. We have modulars behind all of our buildings. We'll be losing our modulars.”

        The Bethel-Tate Middle School addition includes a new cafeteria and kitchen, and music and art classrooms. At William Bick Elementary School, construction begins on a new gymnasium, two classrooms and an administrative area. Both additions are expected to be completed by this fall.

        The districtwide project is being done through the Ohio School Facilities Commission, which helps less wealthy districts.

        Bethel-Tate district voters passed a bond issue in November 1999, agreeing to pay for 20 percent — a little more than $4 million — of the project. The state pays the remaining 80 percent, or about $20 million.

        Voters passed a separate bond issue to build athletic fields at the new high school for about $1.3 million. State money can't be used for non-instructional facilities.

        Construction creates a short-term problem at the elementary, which loses the bus loop in front of the school. Starting Monday, the Angel Drive (Ohio 32) entrance to Fossyl Drive will be closed during loading and unloading of buses from 8:30 to 9 a.m. and 3:20 to 3:50 p.m. A new bus loop will be created in time for the 2001-02 school year.

        Parents who pick up or drop off students must use the South Street entrance to Fossyl Drive. As a result of this change, all parents are encouraged to have children ride their school bus.

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