Officials hope to start MCCTC building project

By Ed Runyan

Taxpayers will not be asked for additional funding for the construction.

CANFIELD — Mahoning County Career and Technical Center officials are hoping the nearly two-year construction project to replace a burned-out wing and add another will begin in June, just after school lets out.

The work will replace the 40,000-square foot “C” wing that burned in a $13 million fire last May and provide an additional wing for expansion. The entire project will add 70,000 square feet.

Included are a new main entrance and a new look across the front of the building.

Recently the technical center school board had an open house to show the architectural renderings from the school’s architectural firm, Balog, Steines, Hendricks and Manchester of Youngstown.

Roan Craig, the school’s superintendent, said the new look will better represent the innovation that is fostered within the building walls. “That’s what we’re about is innovation and technology, and it has a very innovative look,” she said.

Further, the construction of a new wing for adult education labs and classrooms between the existing classroom and agricultural buildings will join the two buildings to make it a more unified campus.

The new fa ßade will be functional as well, providing a new main office and a separate entry for the school board offices.

First on the construction schedule, however, is the replacement of the demolished wing, which housed the school’s social studies, math, art and adult education classes, plus guidance offices.

The wing was demolished in a fire set by a former student, who was accused of lighting a cigarette lighter over a bucket of solvent that students were using to clean up spilled paint. Pamela Schindler, now 18, of Salem, is awaiting trial June 16 in the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center on charges of aggravated arson.

Craig said the school board hopes to award a contract within the coming weeks for the construction of the new “C” wing and expects construction to be complete in January 2009. She hopes the remaining work will be complete by around January 2010.

The project, which will cost $14 million to $15 million in all, will be paid for with a loan to be paid back over about 27 or 28 years, said Blaise Karlovic, the school’s treasurer.

Insurance will pay for about $2 million to $3 million of the loss, with the remainder paid back at about $800,000 to $900,000 per year, he said.

The school has about $9 million to put toward the construction, officials have said, since the addition had been planned since before the fire.

No additional money will be sought from taxpayers in the form of a levy, Karlovic said.

Craig said she is eager for the additional space to be up and running since the current facility is “maxed out” with students and classrooms.

“We’re using space that has never been used for instruction,” she said of the making due without the “C” wing.

runyan@vindy.com