BADGER SCHOOLS Building project stays on schedule

District officials are shooting for fall 2006 for an opening.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
KINSMAN -- Work is proceeding on schedule on an estimated $18 million school building that will replace four school buildings for pupils in five communities.
Voters passed a 7-mill bond issue in 2002 to raise about $10.15 million over 28 years, the local portion of the estimated $18 million project for Joseph Badger schools. The Ohio School Facilities Commission is paying the remaining project cost.
Groundbreaking is set for early spring 2005, the time frame suggested when the project first started.
"We're hoping for an opening in fall of 2006," said Superintendent David Bair.
The district bought 100 acres near the Kinsman-Vernon line two years ago to build the new pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade school.
Bair said planning has involved teachers, administrators, school board members, parents, students and community members.
"A lot of the stakeholders are really, really involved," Bair said.
Opportunities for the community to provide input will continue as the project progresses.
Replaces four schools
The new central school will replace the high school and middle school, both located in Kinsman, and two elementary schools that comprise the district. One elementary school is in Gustavus with the other in Hartford.
Pupils living in Kinsman, Gustavus, Hartford and Vernon townships and the village of Orangeville attend Badger schools.
The middle school was built in 1914, both elementary schools were constructed in 1928 and the high school was built in 1936.
Following a recommendation from the project architects and construction managers, the district opted to install an underground drainage package at the new school site. Bair said the system, estimated at $84,000 to $85,000, is to prevent project delays caused by rain.
Some districts' building projects have been delayed when water from heavy downpours deluged the construction sites.
New site
The new school site includes four buildings, a farm house, garage and two other structures. "I would guess they go back to the early 1900s," the superintendent said.
An individual agreed to take the house and the garage and move it to a location down the street. The other two will be sold to a company the specializes in vintage timber.
"It saves the district because we don't have to pay the abatement and demo costs," Bair said.
The old school buildings will likely be demolished as part of the project, although Bair said someone has expressed interest in the high school building. He declined to provide specifics until an agreement is established.
denise_dick@vindy.com