This week may have been spring break for Whitwell and Kingsbury students, but not for the construction workers who are remodeling the restrooms in those schools.

Earlier this year the Ironton City Schools received a $238,658 grant from the Ohio School Facilities Commission to renovate the restroom facilities.

Superintendent Dean Nance said the changes will be top to bottom.

“They will have new floors, new fixtures, new dividers, new ceilings,” Nance said. “The showers that were once in those buildings will be replaced. The restrooms will have new lighting fixtures.”

Shawn Walker and Associates of Ashland, Ky., is the architect for the project.

Kellico of Ironton is the general contractor and B.B.L. of Portsmouth is the plumbing contractor.

The students will use mobile restroom units while the old ones are renovated. The project will be completed by the end of June, Nance said.

In other matters, the city school board endorsed the Lawrence County Board of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities levy that is on the May primary ballot.

“We have a lot of strong ties to the Ironton City Schools,” Lawrence County MR/DD Superintendent Paul Mollett said.

“Our roots are here, our foundation is in the city of Ironton. The first program we began, the Open Door School, is still in your city.”

Board members commended Mollett on the MR/DD’s accomplishments over the years as they voted to extend their support.

The board also approved its list of contracts with certified employees, accepted the retirements of Spanish teacher Judy Deutsch and math and calculus teacher Mary Handley, approved the use of school facilities for the May 2 primary election, scheduled a 5 p.m. May 5 meeting at the administration building to approve scholarships and scheduled the next regular board meeting for 6 p.m. May 18 at West Ironton School.