McDONALD School renovation work is nearing completion

The entire third floor of McDonald High School is made up of science labs.
By MARY SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
McDONALD -- The first and largest phase of a three-part renovation project is nearing completion at McDonald High School.
Students and teachers will be on spring break March 29 to April 8. Sixteen classrooms on the second and third floors of the high school will be ready for their return.
The renovations are part of an $8 million renovation being paid for as part of a $15 million Ohio School Facilities grant, coupled with a local bond issue. The funds will be used to finance renovation of the high school, raze Roosevelt Elementary School and build a new elementary school on Seventh Street behind the high school.
New administrative offices for the superintendent, treasurer, the board of education and administrative staff will be opened at the far western end of the ground floor of the library side of the building, facing Seventh Street. Principal and guidance offices of the high school will be moved into the former board offices on the far east corner on the Seventh Street side.
Of the 16 classrooms to be reopened for students, a major face-lift has occurred.
Tour given: Schools Treasurer Thomas Radabaugh recently conducted a preview tour of the work, showing off the nearly completed newly remodeled second and third floors of the original high school building, built in 1929.
The third floor is devoted entirely to science labs for general science, biology, physics and chemistry. The labs are new, with fully upgraded fixtures and furniture.
The second floor consists of eight classrooms, two of which are special education classrooms which are part of a suite. New restrooms are also included and new furniture is in each room.
Other classrooms to be opened are a new art room and home economics room in the back of the building.
The board of education's new suite of offices off the library section of the building replaces the old art room and special education room, and includes 1,000 square feet for the main office, the treasurer and superintendent's office, a board of education office, a storage room for records and a utility room for office personnel.
The new classrooms all feature video retrieval systems. The heating system, which was on the floors, has been moved overhead. Air conditioning has been added.
Lines for computer hookups are also overhead, and will be easily accessible through ceiling tiles.
The remodeled floors include new lockers. An elevator will be installed on an addition up to the third floor to allow accessibility for people who are disabled.