Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, November 16, 1995                   TAG: 9511160081
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W-13   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SALEM GIVES OK FOR NEW GYM

And, after the presentation by Kinsey-Shane architect Bob Fry on Tuesday, the board told school administrators to draft bid documents.

Superintendent Wayne Tripp said he would like to break ground as soon as the weather permits in the spring.

Fry presented two conceptual drawings to the board - a gymnasium and two extra classrooms added to a wing of the school, or, the gymnasium only, with an open space between the school and gym for the option of adding the classrooms later.

Tripp warned that the additional classrooms may exceed the $1 million in capital reserve funds.

``With the extra two classrooms, we may be above budget,'' he said.

Tripp noted that two classrooms used as a cafeteria would be freed if the school converts its existing gym into a cafeteria and multipurpose room.

The plans included a 94-foot floor and a seating capacity of 300.

Michael Bryant, director of administrative services, said the gym could accommodate all of the school's students for assemblies.

Board members also discussed the possibility of adding an alternate area for loading and unloading buses to solve traffic problems noted by Bryant.