As technology continues to advance and evolve at what seems like a blink of the eye, schools are expected to be able to keep up and provide their students with the most up to date and best possible learning environment.
Nowhere is the more prevalent than at North Central Schools. The original junior high and high school building, which has stood since 1923, poses certain challenges when it comes to implementing modern day technology.
Superintendent, Kenneth Boyer, said of the old high school building’s drawbacks, “It is on three different levels [stories] and it makes it difficult to put the new kind of technology in that facility.”
North Central, one of the last school systems in the area to receive a new school, began construction on a new, state of the art, junior high and high school building on Friday starting with the demolition of the back part of the old high school.
Boyer promises the new junior high and high school building will be much more efficient as well as air conditioned, which is something the old building did not have.
The new building will have 15 new classrooms, including more modern science labs, a new cafeteria/auditorium combo as well as a new band room and media center.
The classrooms will be more accommodating to newer technologies such as SMART Boards, as the rooms are wired for these innovative learning tools, explained Boyer.
“It’s all about utilizing the technology that is available. We have those things now and we have rewired but these [new] rooms will be made for that. We’re providing that technology now but it will be much more efficient.”
The new building is a School Facilities Commission Project via the state of Ohio. The state of Ohio will be funding 50% of the project while the other half comes from local funds.
The local funds will be furnished through the recent levy which passed last fall (?). The levy is for $1.4 million over the course of 37 years.
Boyer believes economic aspect of the levy (the price and length) is what led to its passing, at least partially.
“Part of the reason it went through was we were able to do it very economically at $1.4 million,” but added that the community’s support of the school factored in as well.
“It [passing of the levy] shows the commitment of our community to provide a good, quality education to our students.”
Of course there will always be naysayers and those against higher taxes but Boyer believes that once people see the new school they will understand the benefits it brings to students.
The superintendent hopes to make the new school a true, “community building” with the programs it will offer such as musicals and other performances.
The demolition of the old high school began with the auditorium and band room on the back part of the building but the entire building will eventually come down. Classes will still be held in the old building this school year, however.
As of now, the plan is to be moved into the new building by fall of 2016 although this may cause the start of the school year to be delayed until after Labor Day, according to Boyer.
Spencer can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Picture(s) Caption: Part of the old North Central High School came down in a pile of bricks Friday morning as construction of the new school gets under way later this fall.