Tours give sneak peek into future

The new school will open this fall.

By JEANNE STARMACK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

AUSTINTOWN — It’s a little imposing, but in a cool kind of way.

Maybe a little scary, too, but a fun kind of scary to think about.

Donyce Johnson, who will be going into seventh-grade in the fall, is “a little nervous” about coming to the new Austintown Middle School on Raccoon Road.

But she and friend Specel Patterson, also an up-and-coming seventh-grader, gave their thumbs-up during the public’s first peek inside the school, which will open this fall.

After two years in the making, the school had an eager audience for its debut.

A steady stream of families made their way through the halls Monday evening on tours guided by the middle school’s PTA volunteers and the building’s three principals.

The tours

Tours began in the main entrance, where homage is paid to the pillars of character that were taught at the old AMS on Mahoning Avenue — respect, citizenship, caring, responsibility, fairness and trustworthiness. Each word is emblazoned on the wall there in large, blue letters.

On the first floor, explained guide Dee Dee Ledsome, a reception area will ensure that no one can gain entrance to the building “unless they get buzzed in.”

The principals’ offices flank a secretaries’ and waiting area, and there is a large nurse’s station and guidance offices nearby.

The eighth-graders will have classes on the first floor, Ledsome said.

In one of the classrooms Breanna Legg, who will be in eighth grade, tried out one of the desk chairs. She pronounced the school “pretty cool.”

On the way upstairs, Donyce and Specel declared it much better than old AMS, which was built in 1916 and is destined for the wrecking ball.

New areas of interest

On the second floor are two large computer rooms, and a 3,948-square-foot media room has a view down into the main hall.

In the hallway off the media room, a pillar contains a time capsule that’s full of mementos from Frank Ohl Middle School pupils and old AMS pupils, said guide Donna Marsolo. Frank Ohl pupils will also attend the Raccoon Road school, and Frank Ohl will become a school for fourth- and fifth-graders.

A 1,218-square-foot life skills lab will house cooking and sewing classes.

The tour continued to the first floor again, where a large choir room produced an excited squeal from Donyce, who’s going to get to use it. Across from it is the band room.

A 6,166-square-foot cafetorium will combine pupils’ dining and a 2,646-square-foot stage.

There are not one, but two gyms.

A concession stand on the first floor will be open for sporting events, said Marsolo.

And not to shortchange fine art, the school has two art rooms with a kiln between them so pupils can work on ceramics.

If you missed the tour Monday but you’d like to see the new school, you have another chance. A second open house is set for 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

starmack@vindy.com