Elementary pupils say farewell to buildings

Pupils will be together next fall in a new central school.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HARTFORD -- As work progresses on the new Joseph Badger central school, elementary pupils in Hartford who will be uprooted are going through a series of programs to make the move meaningful.
"We want to make it an eventful year," said Trish Cratsley, a member of the Hartford Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization.
Cratsley has two daughters attending Hartford Elementary, where she also attended classes as a child.
"To see Hartford being downed is hard," she said of the building's eventual fate.
Jan Bogan, library computer teacher at Hartford, said pupils and teachers released about 250 balloons earlier this month. Inside the balloons were notes asking those who found them to contact the school.
Fifteen people so far have contacted the school, including one from outside Pittsburgh.
"We hope to allow students to leave with fond memories," Bogan said, noting the program is known as a "Series of Fortunate Events."
In October, the Optimist Club will donate 200 pumpkins to the pupils. These will be painted and used to decorate the school, businesses and nursing homes.
Other plans
Heather Lamancusa, president of the Hartford PTO, said pupils will send valentines to their counterparts at their sister school, Gustavus Elementary. The pupils will be together next fall.
Other events will include decorating the school with large snowmen in November and December, a trivia contest about the district in January, and letter writing in May to individual high school students reminding them not to drink and drive during prom.
The district will raze four buildings when the central school opens on a 100-acre site along state Route 7 in Kinsman.
The property had a century home, unattached garage and silo on it. A neighbor moved the house, and the silo and garage were sold for their old wood.
Dr. David Bair, schools superintendent, noted the land on which the four school buildings now sit will eventually be turned over to the township. "We're returning them to green space," he said.
Voters approved a 7-mill bond issue in 2003 to raise about $10 million over 30 years. This is the local share of the overall $18 million project. The Ohio School Facilities Commission is paying the remaining project cost.
The district bought the acreage near the Kinsman-Vernon Township line to build the new pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade building.
Pupils living in Kinsman, Gustavus, Hartford and Vernon townships and the village of Orangeville attend Badger schools.
"It's progressing nicely," Bair said. "We are far ahead of schedule."
About new building
The walls and roofing are up and shingles are being laid.
Bair said the building is constructed in such a way that younger pupils don't come into contact with older students "unless we want it to happen."
The only common areas are the media room and cafeteria. There are three gymnasiums, so students remain separated.
Administrative offices are to the front of the building. These offices, along with athletic fields and an auditorium, are being funded by the local share since state money can't be used to pay for them. "The community has wanted a superintendent that is accessible," Bair noted of the administrative offices' being in front of the building.
yovich@vindy.com