'Been waiting for this day.' Perry Local ready for new elementary schools

PERRY TWP. ‒ Seven-year-old Luca Silla has been waiting for this day.

Decked out in a fluorescent green vest and a white hard hat, the first grader at Lohr Elementary School made his way to a pile of dirt behind the Perry Local elementary school.

He was one of five Lohr students selected to hoist a ceremonial shovel of dirt on the construction site of one of the district's newest elementary schools.

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"I've been waiting for this day for so long," the youngster said.

On Tuesday across the district, officials broke ground on three sites selected to house the district's three new elementary schools.

While some site work has begun on the project, crews soon will kick into high gear preparing the land for the new buildings with ground excavation and installation of utilities.

'So grateful' to the Perry Local community

Superintendent Nate Stutz told those gathered at the project site for the new Southway Elementary School that district leaders and members of the Board of Education are grateful to the community for its support.

"We are so grateful to the community for entrusting the district with this transformation project," he said. "Today marks the beginning of a very exciting time."

The new facilities, Stutz said, will impact the success of those stepping foot inside them.

"We want to provide our students with the experiences that provided continued success," Stutz added.

For Silla, he just wants his playground back. The construction site has taken up some of Lohr's playground. He hopes the new school has a great set of monkey bars for him and his friends to climb.

"I'm pretty good (on the monkey bars)," he said. "I hope (the new school) has lots of games at recess."

At the former Doctors Hospital site at 420 Austin Ave. NW, the playground was on the mind of Watson kindergartner Jemma Schroeder. Schroeder and four of her peers from Watson stood on the construction site across the street from their school to mark the momentous occasion.

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The former hospital's land will house the new Watson Elementary School.

What does the new Watson Elementary need?

A pink slide is a necessity for Watson's new playground, Schroeder said. And maybe a yellow swing.

The 5-year-old also suggested a purple slide be installed for her twin sister, Lyla, since that is her favorite color.

Besides making sure the playgrounds are in top shape, other students were more practical.

Lohr kindergartner Hudson Graber said builders must include a large space so his peers have plenty of room to learn. He also wants to make sure the schools are equipped with computers and iPads. The 6-year-old says he and his classmates spend a lot of time tracing letters and counting on the technology.

Finley McCourt said the schools need bathrooms, sinks and water fountains. The 6-year-old Lohr first grader said they can't forget soap and paper towels so they can wash their hands.

Five-year-old Kendall Schering didn't have much of an opinion about what was needed in the school but insisted there had to be homework.

Her principal Nicholas Huskins assured the Lohr kindergartner homework would always be around.

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While Malina Pierce, 7, thought a cotton candy machine would be a good addition, she said the most important thing was the people that would be part of the school.

Perry's long road to new elementary buildings

The projects are part of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission program. The OFCC has agreed to fund 62% of the cost of the new schools.

The district entered the OFCC's Expedited Local Partnership Program, which allows the district to receive credit for work completed on renovations or new building when state funding is available.

In 2020, voters approved a combined bond issue and permanent improvement levy to fund the district's share of the project and fund state-funded portions until the money is received from the OFCC. The 3.9-mill bond issue will generate $58.3 million over its 35-year term. The 1.5-mill improvement levy will generate $18.9 million during the life of the bond issue.

Plans initially called for four elementary schools as part of the $163.5 million project, which also included renovation at the high school and expansion of the Health and Wellness Center.

Construction costs skyrocketed during the pandemic and officials scaled back to three new schools.

The new estimated construction cost is around $72 million.

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The district will build three schools for kindergarten through fifth grade: One at the Doctors site, one on the Lohr Elementary property at 5300 Richville Drive SW and the third on 40 acres of district-owned land along Southway Street SW just east of Genoa Avenue SW.

The new schools will include a two-story academic wing, administration offices, a media center, gym, stage and cafeteria/kitchen.

Each school will look a little different, but the footprint will be the same: About 67,000 square feet to accommodate about 550 students.

The existing Whipple, Watson and Lohr buildings, as well as Genoa Elementary School, will be razed after the new schools are completed.

T.C. Knapp will be converted to an early learning center for the district’s growing preschool program.

The project also includes some renovations at the high school, including replacing portions of the roof, which is underway.

Construction is set to begin early next year with students attending the new schools with the start of the 2024-25 school year.

Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com

On Twitter: @aknappINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Perry Local breaks ground for three new elementary schools