TRUMBULL COUNTY District to buy land for school

The latest property purchased is near the Trumbull Plaza.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The city school board will pay $475,000 for 17.5 acres on Parkman Road to build a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school.
The new school, part of a $170 million Ohio School Facilities Commission project to build all new district schools, will replace the Reserve Middle School building.
Although the OSFC is providing money to demolish existing school buildings, the school board hasn't decided what to do with the Reserve building, said Linda Metzendorf, board president, at a board meeting Tuesday.
Reserve, a former high school that includes a planetarium and a swimming pool, is the district's newest school building but also carries the highest utility bills, Metzendorf said.
The property purchased is at 2501 Parkman, near Trumbull Plaza. It's owned by the DAF Corp. of Liberty.
Demolition planned
The board also approved a resolution stating its intent to demolish Dickey Avenue, Roosevelt and McKinley elementary schools and keep the land. Dickey closed a few years ago. Roosevelt closed after the 2002-03 school year, and McKinley closed after the 2003-04 school year.
OSFC is providing 80 percent of the school district's building project costs, and the school district is borrowing money to provide the remaining portion.
The plan is to build five new kindergarten-through-eighth-grade schools and a new high school. OSFC's funding includes money to demolish all existing schools.
In other business, Metzendorf appointed board members Nedra Bowen and Edward Bolino to a committee to work with James Russo, executive director of business operations on a meal program for Warren G. Harding High School.
The school discontinued its lunch period several years ago, opting to devote more time to class work, though vending machines have been available and students have been able to eat during classes.
Reinstituting a lunch program at the school was one of Bowen's campaign issues while running for election.
Menu choices
She didn't like the menu prepared by the administration and given to board members Tuesday.
The breakfast menu included a choice of Pop Tart, cereal, Toastable, bagel, Rice Krispy treat or yogurt parfait along with Bear Grahams, orange juice and milk. The cost is 75 cents and the program runs from 6:45 to 8:10 a.m. Soup and chili also will be available to buy for breakfast.
Sack lunches cost $1.50 and must be ordered in the morning. The lunch then will be delivered to students' rooms.
A snack bar will be open from 1:29 to 2 p.m. and will feature hot foods such as soup and pizza.
But according to health board rules, hot food must be eaten when served.
Superintendent Betty J. English said four board members agreed at a previous meeting to maintain the high school lunch program until a new school is constructed.
Metzendorf said she's concerned about the nutritional value of some of the items available such as Pop Tarts and Rice Krispy treats.
But English said that when the high school offered hot breakfasts for students two years ago, no one ate them.
"The food had to be thrown out," the superintendent said.