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No teardown during Colony Oak work
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Trustees of the Ripon Unified School District approved the conceptual plans for the Colony Oak Modernization Project on Monday.
In doing so, they preserved the existing playground, in turn, saving $50,000 – as in the cost for the play equipment — said Project Manager Deanna Shirlock of CT Brayton & Sons General Contractor with the dedication right of way (34- by 540- foot stretch south of campus) for West Colony Oak Road.
“In dedicating this from Day 1, you don’t have to tear down anything (during construction),” said Max Medina of WLC Architect.
Plans also call for widening of the entrance / exit in the nearby Parking Lot A while doing away with a second driveway to this 70-plus space parking lot.
The staff parking lot – or Lot B – would have an access road that dissects the campus via East Santos Road.
This road would be overlayed with a new playground consisting of four full-court outdoor basketball courts, in turn, making better use of the area.
“We would have to train staff on the new campus,” said Medina on the access road plans.
The acquired land directly behind the school would be part of a master plan, the architect added.
The hope here is for new underground retention and / or new water well. Colony Oak is in a rural part of town and currently not hooked up with the City of Ripon utilities, according to Superintendent Siegrid ‘Ziggy’ Robeson.
The school will be converted into a Science Technology Engineering Mathematics campus with 18 classrooms, a Library Media Center, Ag/Science/Engineering labs and other office spaces.
Medina suggested that one of the existing portables can be kept for storage.
Colony Oak is part of the voter-approved Measure G.
Plans will soon be forwarded to the Division of State Architect for review.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.