Demolition of old J-M school continues

NORTH JACKSON — School administrators look to the future as the 97-year-old bricks come down from the former Jackson-Milton High School.

Superintendent Kirk Baker said demolition began at the end of July on the old building, constructed in 1913, and should take about six weeks to complete.

The total demolition cost about $226,000, which included $80,000 in asbestos removal, said John Zinger, district treasurer.

The school has been vacant since the end of the 2008-09 school year.

Baker said the school board and administrators decided on demolition after students in grades seven through 12 moved into a new $16 million facility in 2009. The new school is on Mahoning Avenue next to the K-6 elementary school.

“It was going to take about $6 million to fix,” he said. “We didn’t want to end up being an eyesore, so the property will become green space.”

For the complete story, see Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com