Work progresses on $38 million South Range school complex

By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

greenford

The walls are up, the

roof is on and work is progressing on schedule on the new South Range schools complex.

Superintendent Dennis Dunham said students in kindergarten through 12th grade should be seated in the new classrooms at the state Route 46 school complex for the first day of the next school year, Sept. 8.

About 1,320 students from Beaver and Green townships attend district schools.

“There are three wings — one for the high school, one for the middle and the third for the elementary school,” the superintendent said.

The $38 million project is funded with about $20 million from the Ohio School Facilities Commission and an $18 million bond issue approved by voters in 2007 that allowed the district to borrow $18 million through the sale of bonds.

Chris McCoy of Hammond Construction of Canton, the project manager, said between 75 and 100 workers are on the site each day including roofers, bricklayers, electrical and other laborers.

Bids that came in last year were lower than anticipated, allowing the project to be $4 million under its initial budget. That allows the building to offer enhanced technology including Smart boards in classrooms.

McCoy attributes the lower bids to the economic downturn and contractors’ being eager for work.

“South Range bid the project at the right time,” he said.

The school district bought the property between Canfield and Columbiana in the 1970s.

The complex features a gymnasium for each wing with a shared media center/computer lab, cafeteria and auditorium.

The auditorium, which seats 760 people compared with 470 in the old high school, includes a stage with space above it, allowing scenery to be hoisted out of the way when a production requires it.

The new complex will replace the combined high school-elementary school building on South Avenue, North Lima, and the middle school building on West South Range Road in Greenford.

Classrooms are larger with two windows in each, allowing natural light. Each wing will have its own entrance with security limiting outsider access to student academic areas.

“The technology will be a definite enhancement,” Dunham said.

OSFC rules require the district to either sell or demolish the existing school buildings after moving into the new structure.

The middle school sold in September to Edward Schaefer, who owns property near the school site, for $100,000. Schaefer couldn’t be reached to comment.

“We’re still using [the building], and we have the ability to use it until September 2011,” Dunham said.

While the district plans to have children in the new school this September, the provision provides a cushion should any problems crop up.

The other building also is up for sale, but there haven’t been any takers.

“If we don’t sell them, we have to demolish the buildings and take care of asbestos,” Dunham said.

That cost was estimated at $362,000 for the middle school building, which dates to the 1920s and ’30s.

“It was a significant savings to sell it rather than taking it down,” the superintendent said.

The demolition and asbestos-removal cost for the elementary-high school building is estimated at $300,000. While that building is newer, portions of it date to the 1930s as well.