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Mahoning Career and tech center moves forward with building plans
By Denise Dick
CANFIELD
A Youngstown firm will provide architectural and construction management services at a cost of $224,000 for a building on Mahoning County Career and Technical Center property to be used by the county educational service center. Ron Iarussi, ESC superintendent, said meetings are to begin with stakeholders including administrations, employees and the governing board to determine what the building will include.
No decisions have been made about the size of the building or the cost.
“The benefit of the move is the coordination of all educational services on one campus,” said David Engler, president of the ESC board.
The ESC and career-technical center boards share five members, and the CTC board has two additional members who represent Campbell and Struthers.
“The ultimate goal is to reduce costs for our operations and the services we provide for our districts,” Iarussi said. “We’ve already taken a couple of steps to do that.”
About two years ago, the two agencies opted to share a treasurer as a way to consolidate services and reduce costs, and in August, when Roan Craig, MCCTC superintendent, retires, Iarussi will be superintendent of both.
The building would be owned by the career-technical center and leased by the ESC. The ESC now leases space in Southwoods Building off of Market Street in Boardman. But Iarussi believes money could be saved through a lease agreement with the career-technical center.
The ESC, which provides most school districts in Mahoning County as well as some in Columbiana and one in Trumbull County with special education, curriculum, occupational therapy and other services, employs about 300 people, although most work outside of the offices.
“There are times when we need to have our employees together, and we don’t have the accommodations for that at our current location,” Iarussi said.
The center already conducts professional development sessions for its employees at the career and technical center.
Engler said the career-technical center has a good bond rating and would be able to borrow money to build the building at a low rate.
“The emphasis is that our office space meets our future needs and reflects our mission to be leaders in education in Ohio, which we have been,” Engler said.