Orientation set at East and Chaney

East High School is still
awaiting issuance of a
building occupancy permit.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — City school students headed for the new East or expanded and renovated Chaney high schools this fall will get a chance to examine the buildings next week.

Both schools have scheduled student orientation sessions. Classes begin Sept. 4.

The East sessions will be spread over three days, while Chaney orientations will all be done in a single day.

The two buildings are part of a $180 million districtwide rebuilding program, with the price for East coming in at about $30 million while the Chaney job was about $25 million.

Fourteen schools are involved in the program, and eight of those projects are now done.

Chaney teachers and staff have been able to be in their building for a couple of weeks, but those at East just got in this week due to some delays in the district securing an occupancy permit for the building.

Tony DeNiro, assistant superintendent for school business affairs, said a city water supply problem caused the initial delay and some small additional finishing items need to be taken care of before a full occupancy permit can be issued by the city.

“We feel real comfortable with everything,” he said, likening the inspection process to building a new house and deciding some small, last-minute changes or additions are needed before you move in.

Partial permit

The district did get a partial permit Friday, which cleared the way for teachers to get into the school to begin setting up their classrooms and attend staff meetings, DeNiro said.

It also cleared the way for new students to come to the building’s central office to register, he said, noting that about 25 did so Monday.

A final inspection of the school by the city building inspector was expected today, he said.

Both schools will also hold open houses for the public to get a look at the facilities.

East will hold its session at 2 p.m. Sept. 23, and Chaney’s open house is set for 2 p.m. Sept. 30.

gwin@vindy.com