Construction Completion Date
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Schools
Forum Name: Other School Issues
Forum Description: Discuss other issues such as school security, student activities, etc.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6051
Printed Date: Oct 31 2024 at 7:03pm
Topic: Construction Completion Date
Posted By: 409
Subject: Construction Completion Date
Date Posted: Mar 24 2015 at 4:59pm
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MJ: Middletown schools construction completion date: 2019 By Rick McCrabb Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Four years from now, the corner of North Breiel Boulevard and Manchester Road will look totally different and will be the hub for educational and community events, district officials said. By 2019, Middletown High School is expected to be renovated and a new 135,000-square-foot middle school, located just south of MHS, should be built. The school projects are estimated to cost $96 million and are being co-funded by Middletown residents who passed a $55 million bond issue and a 0.26-mill permanent improvement levy last year. But that $55 million bond was reduced to $45 million, saving taxpayers $10 million. The rest of the co-funding will come from the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission, said Treasurer Randy Bertram. George Long, the district’s business manager, made a presentation at Monday night’s school board meeting and when he unveiled drawings of the middle and high schools, he warned they were only “preliminary images.” Then he added: “Things will change.” He said after the exterior plans are finalized, district leaders will meet with teachers and staff to get their input on how the interior should be designed. He expects those plans to be finalized by the end of the school year. Ground could be broken one year from now, he said, saying most of the early work will be behind the scenes. The middle school and sports arena could be open by December 2017, and the high school, two years later, Long said. He said some of the construction will take place during the school year. The high and middle schools will be separated by 37 feet, but eventually, there will be a connector to make it easier for students to pass from one school to the other, he said. Long said if the schools were connected in the original plans, the district would lose significant funding from the OSFC because it would be considered one project instead of two. Middletown High School will feature what Long called “learning pods” where students will be instructed by six to eight teachers. The students will remain in their pods for the entire school year, something Long said will create a better learning environment. There will be major upgrades to the auditorium and music rooms, the art and STEM programs, he said. There will be an area for visitors to be dropped off in front of the performing arts center, and that area will be used during school hours to drop off those students with disabilities, he said. Most of the renovations will be done to the front of the high school and will create “a complete new look,” Long told board members. When designing the middle school, Long said, it was important it not be considered “the stepchild of the high school.” Both of the schools will have similar looks, he said, and there will be planters, trees, and picnic tables located throughout the campuses. With the building of a gymnasium in the middle school, a 2,300-seat arena, and Paul Walker Gym in the high school, there will be three sports facilities on the campus. Long said that will give the district the opportunity to host larger sporting events and generate revenue for the city. There also will be a weight room, wrestling room and track located near the arena and space in the buildings to showcase the school’s athletic and academic accomplishments, Long said. Long said none of the sports facilities have been named and the district is forming a historical committee to consider potential rights. Long joked that he wouldn’t touch the naming rights issue “with a 10-foot pole.” ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Replies:
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Mar 24 2015 at 5:02pm
Preliminary Image: ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: swohio75
Date Posted: Mar 25 2015 at 9:11am
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Here's the link to the full presentation with more exterior renderings. http://www.boarddocs.com/oh/mdcsd/Board.nsf/files/9UPDZ268B61A/$file/03-15-15-MIDDLETOWN-HS-MS-exterior.pdf" rel="nofollow - http://www.boarddocs.com/oh/mdcsd/Board.nsf/files/9UPDZ268B61A/$file/03-15-15-MIDDLETOWN-HS-MS-exterior.pdf
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Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Mar 25 2015 at 11:22am
| Maybe it's just me but I see this as a traffic nightmare of the future... |
Posted By: chmoore1
Date Posted: Mar 25 2015 at 1:06pm
| Vivian: from the plans that I have seen, there is no additional parking for the middle school, and no secondary emergency exits in the wings at the middle schools. just 1 chmoore. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Mar 25 2015 at 1:12pm
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Thanks chmore1 WOW...then they better take this plan back to the drawing boards.. |
Posted By: swohio75
Date Posted: Mar 25 2015 at 2:20pm
 Just a reminder that Manchester will come down, which will free up additional acreage The school district also purchased a home on the corner of the road that runs in front of the HS and Manchester Rd, which will likely be torn down for parking. My guess is other homes could also be purchased for parking.
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Mar 25 2015 at 3:01pm
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Was this additional parking and house buying in the plans when all of this was proposed? Don't remember private property purchases being mentioned but could be wrong here. This isn't an imminent domain situation on buying these properties for parking. What happens if the property owners on any additional houses ask an astronomical amount for their house and land? Where are the schools getting their money from to purchase real estate? Will it become cost prohibitive for the school to purchase them? If so, then what is the next step? Wonder what the school paid for the house they bought? Didn't see it in the Journal. Isn't all of this information after the fact and appears to be yet another false presentation of what was talked about before the levy passage versus what is actually going to transpire. There are some of us who don't believe a thing they say anymore with their credibility in the toilet. Any current supporters want to join us now or haven't you had enough as yet? ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Mar 25 2015 at 5:36pm
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The house circled in red was purchased for $175,000 back in August of 2013. As I recall, the property was for sale and the school board purchased it for future development. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Mar 25 2015 at 5:56pm
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In January 2015 |