Plans continue for new Girard school

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

Officials hope to advertise for bids in January or February.

GIRARD — Taxpayers here took a quick look at artists’ renderings of the new high school/ junior high facility they have agreed to build with the state.

The state is paying about 80 percent of the costs to build the new school on 13 acres on Shannon Road near Beaver Street and Goist Lane.

Superintendent Joseph Jeswald said the plans should be finalized in about 35 days. The project should be ready to seeks bids in January or February with an anticipated groundbreaking in March.

Jeswald said the new building will have enough space to the rear to include one or more practice fields for athletics. The fields will mean pupils at the junior high level will not have to travel to the current practice field in Liberty Park, he said.

Architect Chris Smith, Then Design of Willoughby, laid out the details concerning the building.

The building, according to Smith, will consist of two two-story wings. One wing will house all junior high classes on the first floor. The high school classes will be on the first floor of the other wing and the entire second floor of the building.

Smith said the gymnasium, cafetorium, band rooms and other “public” portions of the building will be located to the back of the classroom or “academic” portions of the building. He said the setup will allow school officials to shut off the academic portion of the building after school hours and during special events.

The second floor above the main entrance will contain the media center, which Smith said is “probably one of the nicest portions of the building.” The media center will be in the shape of an octagon above the main entrance to the building.

Smith said the building will have one main entrance that will require all coming to the facility to ring a buzzer and appear on camera to gain access. The building, he said, will be equipped with more than 100 cameras. Teachers will have access cards to enter the building at various locations.

Some residents have expressed concerns about traffic in the Shannon Road area with the new school, but Smith said some of the traffic should be taken off the road with circulation around the building and separate drop-off zones for parents and buses. It will also have separate parking for teachers and students.

jgoodwin@vindy.com