KSU to buy junior high building

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 The district will promote a wellness program for pupils and staff. By D.A. WILKINSON VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU SALEM — The Salem Board of Education will sell its closed junior high school to Kent State University. The board and university have reached a sale price of $50,000, said Superintendent Stephen Larcomb. The first step will be a short-term lease of $5,000. Larcomb said Monday the purchase agreement must go through the university's purchasing process, which will take time. Closures necessary Because of financial problems, the school board agreed to close the aging Salem Middle School, along North Lincoln Avenue, at the end of the 2005-06 school year and place its pupils in the high school. The district also voted to close its oldest elementary school, the Prospect Elementary School on Prospect Street. The elementary school also had housed the Hannah E. Mullins School of Practical Nursing. The nursing school is now based in the new junior-senior high school. Dr. Jeffrey Nolte, the dean of the Salem KSU campus, has scheduled a gathering at the closed junior high for 10 a.m. Wednesday. Larcomb said that event essentially will be to symbolically turn over the keys. The nursing school is to move into the former junior high, according to school officials. Other community organizations may follow. Nolte did not return a call for additional information. The district closed the former junior high school after several years of debate about repairing or selling it. When the district's finances grew tight, the district voted to consolidate classes and close its oldest buildings. Voters have since approved a levy. Larcomb said that all but about 19 positions of the teaching staff have been recalled for the 2006-07 school year. There will be 134 teachers for the school year that begins next week. All but eight or nine nonteaching workers have also been recalled. Thanks, for not smoking The workers will find that the district will be trying nicely to curb smoking as part of a state-mandated wellness program. Students are already banned from even possessing tobacco products. Larcomb said he didn't want to see teachers going outside the buildings or to their cars parked on school property to smoke. Multiple infractions for students and teachers could have harsh results, but the district wants to take a pleasant approach. "We'll gently ask people to refrain," Larcomb said. The district also will stop selling candy as a means to raise money for various school-related projects. The district also will eliminate soda pop from vending machines, including one in the teachers' lounge, Larcomb said. wilkinson@vindy.com