Trista Thurston, Reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, wrote a short article regarding the two Lancaster Schools we are currently working on:
LANCASTER - The new Tallmadge Elementary School, currently under construction, is ahead of schedule. It will now be open in time for the upcoming 2016-17 school year, according to Superintendent Steve Wigton.
Originally, both Tallmadge and Medill Elementary Schools were slated be finished sometime in 2017.
"That was a safe estimation," Wigton said, adding the community has been very supportive of the construction and that excitement is building for the new schools.
"We take pride in that building, because it's something the community awarded us," Tallmadge principal Jacob Campbell said.
He added that both students and staff are gearing up to move to the new space. One of the greatest hurdles has been getting students and staff acclimated after a reduction in elementary schools resulted in redistricting. Now, he looks forward to seeing how the school day looks in the new building.
"It's 21st century learning at its best," said Campbell of all the opportunities the new space will afford them, including state-of-the-art labs and spaces that encourage small-group learning.
"I would have never thought that at my second year (as principal), we'd have a new building," said Campbell. "The Tallmadge family wants to thank the community."
Currently, the staff at Tallmadge is preparing to finish out the school year later this month and pack up classroom materials. Since construction is ongoing, any dedication or open house of the new building would be closer to mid-August.
The $88 million construction project, which covers five elementary schools, was funded by both the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and a bond levy passed in 2012. The district also plans to construct two new junior high schools out of general fund dollars. The new Thomas Ewing Middle School will be located on Sheridan Drive, just south of Rainbow Drive. At this time, there has been no progress in finding a new location for General Sherman Junior High, though the search is ongoing.
Medill Elementary is still on schedule but is not expected to be completed by this fall.