Warren finally names new school location

The board continues
studying possible sites for a second west side school.

BY MAYSOON ABDELRASUL

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — After months of talks and protests, the school board made a decision on the location of the next city school building on the west side.

With about 100 community members present, the board voted unanimously Tuesday night to construct one kindergarten through eighth-grade building at the Jefferson School site on Fifth Street Southwest.

The second site is yet to be determined, but it will be in the northwest quadrant of Warren, the board said.

Superintendent Kathryn Hellweg said construction at the Jefferson site will begin immediately.

Board member Linda Metzendorf said she supported the resolution because she wanted the work to begin as soon as possible at the Jefferson site. “We can’t waste time,” she added.

She said she will continue to support construction for a school on Parkman Road, but she didn’t want to hold up construction at the Jefferson site.

Board member Nedra Bowen said she wished the resolution would have said to start work at the Parkman site as well.

“It is with reluctance that I vote for this without having the complete package,” she said.

Board President Ed Bolino said that there are many questions about the suitability of the other two possible sites — McGuffey Elementary on Tod Avenue Northwest and Parkman — and the board is looking into studying both sites to see what will be the best location for the second school.

Working together

Resident Felipe Romain said that over the past month the city has been divided on the school buildings’ issue, and it is time to bring that to an end.

Mayor Michael O’Brien said the community needs to work together as a whole for not only the future of the schools but for the future of the city as well.

He said the city is undergoing a comprehensive strategic plan and one of the major aspects is education.

The Ohio School Facilities Commission asked for a re-evaluation of school buildings to be done by DeJong Inc., a Dublin-based firm.

The study showed that school district enrollment has declined and will continue to decline.

It projected 1,660 fewer pupils in grades pre-kindergarten through 12 by the 2016-17 school year. Pupil enrollment at the end of the last academic year was 5,751.

Residents were concerned that because of the decline that there would be no schools on the city’s west side.

The new kindergarten through eighth-grade Lincoln school on Atlantic Street Northeast will open for the 2007-08 school year later this month.