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WESTERN RESERVE It’s SRO at K-12 school dedication
By Sean Barron
BERLIN CENTER
Even though graduation day is several months away, Gabby Stubbs got a sneak preview of the mixed emotions that many students who walk down the aisle to receive their diplomas experience.
The Western Reserve High School 10th-grader said she felt excited yet a bit apprehensive because she was about to leave the school she’s known for nearly two years for a new and much larger school next door.
“It’s kind of scary. Now, it’s almost like we’re starting the school year all over,” she said.
Gabby spoke shortly after Sunday’s Western Reserve School District’s K-12 Complex dedication ceremony at the new school, 13850 Akron-Canfield Road (U.S. Route 224).
A standing-room-only crowd filled the gym for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially usher in the new $24 million, 118,000-square-foot facility. The school opened its doors today for an estimated 850 students in kindergarten through grade 12 who are enrolled, noted Superintendent Charles Swindler.
Gabby predicted it will take a few weeks to get used to her new surroundings, but said she looks forward to having the latest technology readily available.
“I think I will like the up-to-date technology. In the old school, it was like we were in the ’80s,” said Gabby, adding that she may attend Mount Union University in Alliance after graduation.
Few would argue that the new facility’s technological offerings were unimaginable 30 years ago.
The K-12 school has more than 450 computer sites and features two each of music, science and art rooms, noted Raymond Jaminet, president of Olsavsky Jaminet Architects Inc. of Youngstown, which worked on the design and other phases.
In addition, energy-efficient lighting systems are centrally controlled, and classrooms have the capability to alter energy use to fit the amount of daylight, noted Phillip Jaminet, Raymond Jaminet’s son. More than 60 security cameras are installed for student and staff safety, he continued.
The latest in technology, and the mid-school-year transition, suit senior Sam Barnhouse well. So does his position at the school.
“It’s pretty exciting to be the in the first graduating class,” said Barnhouse, who’s class president.
Barnhouse, who also was accepted into the nursing program at Kent State University’s Salem Campus, said he appreciates the school’s newer computers with greater capabilities as well as interactive boards and other technology he feels will make science class more exciting.
Barnhouse said he also is thankful to many of his teachers and for greater one-on-one time available to district students.
During the ceremony, one student each in kindergarten through 12th grade cut a ribbon to usher in the facility.
A little more than half of the original high school, which opened in 1964, will be used for community gatherings and to house administration offices, explained Swindler, adding that the gym also will be used.
Efforts will be made to sell the elementary and middle schools, which will be razed if buyers can’t be found, he said. No sale date will be announced until next year, he added.
Additional remarks were made by Lisa Powell, school-board vice president; the Rev. Russell Libb, pastor of Berlin Center United Methodist Church; and the Rev. Bonnie Dutton, pastor of Ellsworth Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth.