Ludlow Independent Public Schools broke ground on district-wide renovations and improvements on Monday. The project has been in the planning stages for over a year and will see additions and improvements to facilities throughout the district.
“What a great day to be a Ludlow panther,” said district Superintendent Mike Borchers. “We invited our community members, special guests here on stage, our board of education, teachers, administrators and especially you, our students, to celebrate a very special day in the history of Ludlow Independent Schools.”
Every student and staff member was invited to the event. The marching band and cheerleaders led the attendees in some fanfare leading up to the superintendent’s and other speakers’ addresses.
The facility improvements will include a new cafeteria, a new library, a new band room, an updated maker space, new art rooms, technological improvements, additions to the auditorium, improvements to ventilation systems, as well as general improvements to the flooring, walls, ceilings and other internal infrastructure among other renovations.
“This is a very complicated construction project, logistically speaking,” said Board of Education President Wesley Dorger to the students and other attendees. “Thousands of mental and physical man hours will be thrown at this project. So in the future when you’re walking through the hallways or driving by the school or taking in a football or baseball game, please take a moment to notice the little things.”
To finance the project, the district secured $23 million from Kentucky’s School Facilities Construction Commission, which issues state funds for school construction projects throughout the commonwealth. The board of education also signed on the issuance of about $10 million in bonds in August to further bolster the resources needed for construction.
Borchers attributed securing the state funds to the advocacy efforts of Kentucky Representative Kim Banta (R-Fort Mitchell), who formerly worked as a teacher. Banta attended the event and gave a brief statement.
“I just want to say how proud I am to be a part of this, and I cannot wait to see it,” Banta said. “And I want to thank the teachers. You guys have the hardest job in the world.”
The designs for the renovations were created by REH&A Architects out of Fort Mitchell. Ehmet Hayes, the firm’s principal, did not attend the ground-breaking, but he’s been a regular sight at meetings of the Board of Education over the past year, where he’s given the board regular updates on the project’s planning. At the meeting on Sept. 13, Hayes brought large blueprints of the planned work to show the board and field questions.
Codell Construction will carry out the renovations. Company President James Codell and Bill Cobb, who will be working on-site with the district and the architects, on the other hand, did attend the ground-breaking. Cobb said the construction is expected to take about 27 months and will occur year-round.
Coordinating the construction to not interfere with the school day will present a challenge, he said.
“Getting out of the way of the students, keeping contractors separated from students in the biggest challenge,” Cobb said.
“Our new addition will push the school building all the way out to these sidewalks of Adela Street,” Borchers said. “While that will be a messy process, like Mr. Dorger said, full of moves and inconveniences for the most of us, the product final product will be so worth it. I am proud to lead our efforts as we build tomorrow.”
View more concept renderings of Ludlow’s planned additions below:
