Warren school-district makeover comes with a catch

WARREN — Perhaps one of the most significant changes to hit the urban landscape in Warren recently has been the construction of five schools to replace 19.

The most obvious change was the construction of the new Warren G. Harding High School on Elm Road Northeast and demolition of most of the old high school.

The old building’s facade was saved and restored and will stand as a monument to the history and architecture of the old high school, said Katherine Hellweg, superintendent. The new high school opened last fall.

The district also built K-8 buildings on Atlantic Street Northeast and Willard Street Southeast and expects construction to be complete on the last two, on Fifth Street Southwest and Tod Avenue Northwest, sometime next year.

The smaller number of schools is partly because of a big drop in enrollment, said Mark Donnelly, the district’s business manager.

Read the full story in Monday’s Vindicator and on vindy.com