Ringgold OKs Phase I pool renovations

By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com

Ringgold School District officials took one more step forward in the construction of a new multi-million dollar renovation project to the high school’s natatorium and pool area.
At their meeting Wednesday night, school directors voted 8 – 1 to give the green light to HHSDR Architects to finalize construction options for Phase I of the project, which will cost $5.5 million and is scheduled to be completed in August 2022.
Directors William Stein, Jim Dodd, Carol Flament, Jason Gerard, Gene Kennedy, Harley Bobnar, Sherrie Garry and Maureen Ott voted in favor of the project. Larry Mauro voted against it.
According to HHSDR Architects Executive Vice President Matthew Franz, the project’s construction documents and advertisements for bids will occur in April.
Renovations to the natatorium will include renovating both the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms each with 40 new lockers, updated restrooms that are ADA compliant, updated shower and storage areas, a new ticket window, new floor and wall ceramic tile, wall and skylight painting, retractable bleachers, new exterior doors and hardware, new scorer’s area and a new trainer’s room.
Renovations to the pool include a new concrete shell with a plaster finish, new chemical control system, new filters and pumps, new heater and plumbing, new deck equipment including guard stand, ladders, diving board, floating lane lines, starting platforms, timing devices and cleaning apparatus.
Franz said he suspects the pool currently leaks water due to deteriorating tiles.
“There’s currently an aluminum shell with a vinyl liner,” he said. “The new concrete shell will be more permanent.”
Ringgold Athletic Director Laura Grimm said the renovations will help the six-lane pool meet competition requirements for swimming events such as sectional tournaments.
“It’s going to be much more improved and efficient,” she said.
Franz said construction for the project is scheduled to start in June of 2021, and said if all goes well, the project could be completed by June or July the following year.
“August is a conservative estimate,” he said.
Ringgold school directors began the process in December when they approved an initial proposal from HHSDR Architects, even though the project has been discussed before.
In December, Superintendent Randall Skrinjorich said the project has been discussed four times over the past two years.
According to Skrinjorich in December, the swimming pool has not been renovated since the high school was built in 1977 and is currently closed due to equipment issues.