Ripon Unified officials are keeping their fingered crossed for construction to begin at Weston Elementary School by the end of this school year.

But in order to achieve that June 2014 time line, the district would need to continue along the path set forth by the Program Management Integration team.

This group is made up of PMI Chief Executive Officer Khushroo Gheyara, architect Tim Huff of Huff and Associates, and Senior Project Manager Deanna Shirlock from the contracting firm of CT Brayton & Sons, to name a few.

Together, they provided a schematic design update of the modernization project equipped with a new multi-use building and made possible by the voter-approved Measure G.

At last Monday’s school board meeting, PMI discussed the general site plan that called for the current multi-use room at Weston to be “repurposed,” according to Huff, in  order to accommodate the administration office, computer lab, library and the Title 1 program.

The kindergarten- through- third- grade classrooms would have restrooms to support the playground, two kindergarten and six other rooms, natural light sources, and overhangs to keep youngsters dry during wet weather, Huff said.

The floor plans for the fourth- through- eighth- grade wing would consist of 11 classrooms, restrooms, and office space.

Inside of the proposed multi-use room would include a kitchen, a stage, storage area, and a gym consisting of a 65.8- by 45- foot basketball court, with about four feet separating the baseline to the wall on both ends of the court.

“It needs to be bigger,” said student board member Drake Vizcarra, who was concerned about safety based on his experience of playing hoops in the current cramped gym.

“It’s a balancing act,” Huff said. “Coaches would rather dial up on the size of the court (of the gym space).

“We can still dial down the size of the court for more space.”

Huff indicated that the actual design is not quite complete but that development should be ready for board approval by next month.

In December, the construction document would require approval, with the Division of State Architect in Sacramento needing about four months to review the plan.

“Our intent is to work with DSA in order to get the approval by April,” said Gheyara.

That would put Weston in line for reconstruction to begin in the summer – once school is out for the summer – and completed on July 2015 and just on time for the 2015-16 school year.

Folks at PMI, in addition, are scheduled to begin talks with Colony Oak on the first part of October.