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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Students representing Mahoning County Educational Service Center member districts, including Canfield High School student Alexis Hudock (front), were given a piece of the ribbon they had just cut as a souvenir of the opening of the new facility on Aug. 4.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Nearly two dozen students representing Mahoning County Educational Service Center member districts celebrated the opening of the new Mahoning County Educational Service Center by cutting a second ribbon for the facility on Aug. 4.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.The Governing Boards of the Mahoning County Educational Service Center and the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center celebrated the opening of the new Mahoning County Educational Service Center with the first ribbon cutting on Aug. 4.
By ABBY SLANKER
The Mahoning County Educational Service Center cut two ribbons to celebrate the opening of its new building, located on North Palmyra Road in Canfield, on Aug. 4.
The Governing Boards of the Mahoning County Educational Service Center and the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center did the honors first. Then, nearly two dozen students representing Mahoning County Educational Service Center member districts and the more than 40,000 children served cut the second ribbon.
Mahoning County Educational Service Center Superintendent Dr. Ronald Iarussi welcomed the large crowd to the ribbon cuttings.
“Thank you for being here today. This is a very exciting day for all our districts. I would like to thank the many groups who are here today and the many community members. Thank you for coming out,” Iarussi said before the ribbons were cut.
The $8.5 million building was completed on time, and on budget. Criteria Architect MS Consultants, Inc. and Olsavky Jaminet Architects, Inc. worked with Hammond Construction, using a Design-Build contract delivery method. This is fairly new to Ohio, and only allowed since Construction Reform enacted in July of 2011.
Design-Build eliminates cost overruns and keeps the project on budget, and better ensures top quality. The new building provides a central location for our nearly two dozen member school districts from Mahoning, Columbiana, Trumbull and Portage counties to collaborate.
“The building is inviting and open, and includes state of the art technology that will allow valley educators to meet, and discuss ideas in a 21st century fashion,” said Iarussi. “The interactive abilities of the technology are sure to open new pathways for training for school administrators and staff.”
After the ribbon cuttings, attendees were invited into the building for a short presentation and tours of the building.
Mahoning County Career and Technical Center Governing Board President Beth Donofrio spoke to the large crowd.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in the construction and planning of this facility. The resources here at Mahoning County Educational Service Center are varied and many and are all in the name of education,” Donofrio said.
Mahoning County Educational Service Center Governing Board President, Attorney Kathi McNabb Welsh, echoed Donofrio’s sentiments.
“Today is a great day. This facility will offer creative, innovative and interactive 21st century public education inspired by Mahoning County’s rich diversity of students. Thank you to all who helped make this dream come true.
The building is owned by and adjacent to the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, and will be leased by the Mahoning County Educational Service Center. The move from the former location in Boardman will result in cost savings for all the districts served by the Mahoning County Educational Service Center.