Friday, June 22, 2007
The Jackson-Milton school will use geothermal energy.
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NORTH JACKSON — The schematic design phase for a new Jackson-Milton High School/Middle School has been submitted and a second, more detailed design portion is under way.
Superintendent Buck Palmer said at Thursday’s board of education meeting that the schematic needs the approval of the Ohio School Facilities Commission.
The next set of drawings give three-dimensional views of the 81,000-square-foot facility, which will house pupils in grades six to 12. Those renderings show, for example, roof and classroom configurations, where doors and windows will be, as well as other spatial relations, Palmer noted.
Related matters
In a related matter, officials plan in late summer or early fall to advertise for bids regarding site work for the $14.5 million school, which will be built on more than 100 acres the district owns between Mahoning Avenue and Interstate 76. The board hopes to have roads, utilities and other such work completed before winter, the superintendent continued.
Palmer said he recently traveled to Orrville, Ohio, to see geothermal equipment being installed at a new middle school. The Jackson-Milton school will use geothermal energy, which is safer for the environment and cheaper than natural gas, Palmer noted.
Construction could get started by spring 2008 and the facility’s targeted opening is September 2009.
In other action, officials announced a groundbreaking ceremony for the new school, set for 6 p.m. Aug. 16 at the site just east of the elementary school, 14110 Mahoning Ave. The event will likely include elected officials, Palmer said.