The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Northwest Oklahoma 2

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  • Olivia Aguilar uses a pointer to show the first day of spring on a calendar during Loretta Spleth’s kindergarten class inside the new Ringwood Elementary School building.

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March 13, 2010

Ringwood’s school trades out the old to go in with the new

By Bridget Nash Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

RINGWOOD — Pre-kindergarten through third-grade students at Ring-wood have a brand new building in which to have class.

The project was a result of a bond issue passed more than a year ago. Students moved in at the first of the year.

“We would have moved in in November if it hadn’t been for the parking lot,” Ringwood Superintendent Tom Deighan said.

Deighan said two Ringwood companies — Davidson Brothers Concrete and R&R Oilfield Rental — came to the rescue when it came to finishing the parking lot.

“They cut our cost significantly,” said Deighan.

All things considered, the project went smoothly and quickly.

“It was less than a year from beginning to end,” he said.

The building is energy-efficient with foam building material surrounded by concrete making up the structure.

“It’s like an Igloo cooler,” Deighan said.

Ringwood’s early childhood-aged students were cramped in their old building, but the new building allows lots of room for learning.

“Now we actually have a little room to spare,” Deighan said. “We can accommodate some pretty good growth.”

The kids also have a quieter learning environment with the replacement of window units for air conditioning.

The floors in the hallway are tiled with heavy duty, low-maintenance tile that does not require wax, and the hallway has a corkboard strip running the length of it so items can be hung on the walls without damage from tacks or tape.

The excitement of moving the young students into their new building spread school-wide.

“All the high school kids helped,” said Deighan. The students spent one morning moving classroom supplies from the old building into the new facility.

“By that afternoon they were still doing some shuffling, but a lot of the teachers had class,” Deighan said.

All that remains is laying sod on grounds surrounding the building, which should be done in April.

“It’s been a community effort,” said Deighan.

A ceremony recently was held, dedicating the building to the memory of the late Ray Johnson, the school’s previous superintendent.

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Northwest Oklahoma 2
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