Orange Ridge-Bullock going out with a bang, not a whimper, as school closes

BRADENTON -- A celebration and a sense of closure are in the works for those who worked at, attended or just appreciated Orange Ridge-Bullock Elementary School.

Former Principal Fran Padgett and assistant principal Mary Shapiro formally invited Manatee County School Board members and Manatee County School District staff to a party from 2 to 4 p.m. May 21 at the Bradenton school, which will close to students at the end of this academic year.

"We decided we wanted to go out with a bang, not a whimper, so we're having a big party," Padgett said.

The invitation came the same night the school board approved a contract with a moving company to help teachers and staff move materials out of the school during the summer.

To help rebalance district enrollment, and as starting preparation to build new schools, the board recently approved Superintendent Diana Greene's recommendation to move students out of Orange Ridge.

Orange Ridge has major structural issues, particularly flooding, which was part of the driving factor to move students out of the school.

Most Orange Ridge students will head a mile down the road to Rogers Garden, but other schools in the area are also being affected. The district is also consolidating Wakeland Elementary School's international baccalaureate school into the IB program at Johnson Middle School.

Farther down the road, the district is planning to build a new high school north of the river.

Before all that, officials

want to take a moment to reflect on the 58-year history of Orange Ridge.

School Principal Maribeth Mason wasn't able to attend the meeting, Shapiro said, because Mason was in Washington, D.C., with 23 of the school's fifth-grade students.

"We want to thank Dr. Greene and our school board for a memorable and amazing experience," Shapiro said.

The school holds a special place in the hearts of many who worked there, Padgett said, especially because the school blended traditional students in Rogers Garden with some of the district's most fragile learners in the Bullock program.

Padgett was principal from 1984 to 1999 and was principal when the two separate schools merged.

"It's a very unique program," Padgett said. "I don't know how to say it without sounding corny. Your heart is still there. It tugs at you."

The board also approved a contract with AAA Flat Rate Moving of Sarasota for up to $100,000 to help the district with various moving projects this summer, including moving materials from Bashaw Elementary School for renovations and for the Orange Ridge-Rogers Gardens consolidation.

Teachers are responsible for moving their personal belongings, but the district is hiring movers to help with moving any district materials or furniture from one building to the other.

The contract locks in an hourly rate for supervisors, drivers, movers, packers, truck and vans, if necessary, for the move.

In other board business:

Regina Thoma , head of the district Food and Nutrition Services Department, announced it is not seeking an increase in school lunch prices for the 2016-17 school year. Elementary students pay $2.25 for lunch, middle- and high-school students pay $2.50 and adults pay $3.25.

Chief Financial Officer Rebecca Roberts reported district health insurance costs are rising, just as they are across the country. Roberts said district health insurance costs are not significantly different than its counterparts.

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter @MeghinDelaney.

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 11:36 PM with the headline "Orange Ridge-Bullock going out with a bang, not a whimper, as school closes ."