Johnston Board Approves $1.1 Million School Addition

A six classroom addition is coming to .

The Johnston Board of Education voted 6 to 1 to move forward with the , slated to open in May 2013.

Board member John Dutcher opposed the addition saying the Timber Ridge area was not growing like it used to.

"I don't know if we need to build anything," he said. "Previous boards had a 10-year plan to go off of."

Superintendent Clay Guthmiller said the six-classroom addition would allow the school to have five sections for each grade, much like other elementary schools in the district.

While there is currently one available classroom at Timber Ridge, the addition opens the possibility of additional programs, Guthmiller said.

In the future the district could realign boundaries to elementary schools when capacity becomes more of an issue. The additions would provide more space and flexibility.

Board member Julie Walters called the addition the least expensive addition ever to build on.

The addition will be paid for through sales-tax funds.