Harding’s new look causes excitement

By Ed Runyan | August 28, 2008 at 12:05a.m.

The new high school has more than 600 computers.

WARREN — After $44 million was spent and 340,000 square feet of space built, school officials are nearly ready to welcome 1,767 students for their first day at the new Warren G. Harding High School on Tuesday.

It’s not the end of the city’s $130 million project to replace all of the district’s buildings. There are still three more K-8 buildings on the way.

But it marks a major milestone in the school’s history, as students move from the mostly demolished tan structure on the north end of the Elm Road campus to the red brick building just to the south.

The new building is about twice as large as the former high school, making it one of the largest high schools ever built in Ohio with money from the Ohio School Facilities Commission, said Frank Caputo, district’s personnel director and head of the construction project.

The state paid 81 percent of the $130 million — or about $105 million — with Warren residents paying the other $25 million through a bond issue voters approved in 2003.

The new Harding is also one of the most technologically advanced high schools in the region, with more than 600 computers and 103 security cameras in place.

It has a pool like the old school did, but it has a courtyard and central air conditioning, which the old school did not.

Caputo noted the building was designed with computers in mind, with seven computer labs — most of which are in the three-story classroom section of the building.

“Everywhere you go, computers are available to kids,” he said.

He said people touring the building Tuesday were excited at what they saw. The new building may also be attracting some students back to the school district, he added.

There are about 200 students now registered to start school Tuesday who were not expected previously, with most of those being students who left the district for charter and private schools, Caputo said.

Harding’s new gymnasium comfortably holds 1,850 people — 550 more than the old gym, Caputo said. One set of plans called for squeezing a couple hundred more seats in, but the present arrangement provides more leg room, Caputo said.

One mom walking through the building Tuesday, with her high-school-age son, said she liked what she saw of the new building, though she went to the old high school and missed it already.

Caputo noted that one of the characteristics of the old high school was added to the plans for the new one, with tall columns like those marking the front of the old high school used throughout the new building.

“I think they paid a lot of respect to the look of the old Harding,” Caputo said.

The colors and character of Harding are prominent throughout the building, with the black and gold colors used on floors and lockers.

While visitors and school employees were touring the new building Tuesday, workers continued to dismantle the old building next door.

Caputo estimated demolition of the old building and restoration of the facade will be complete by late October.

A grand opening and dedication ceremony is planned at the school from 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 21.

runyan@vindy.com