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By John Higgins
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 09:40 p.m. EST, Feb 08, 2010
The Akron school board Monday approved a $44.8 million design to rebuild a combined Buchtel High School/Perkins Middle School.
The work includes an auditorium, a renovated gym and extra classroom space funded entirely by Akron taxpayers.
The project is part of Akron's $800 million school construction program that will shut down, renovate or replace every Akron school.
The schools double as community centers after classes let out.
The state generally pays for 59 percent of the basic cost of the projects, with a voter-approved city income tax increase covering the rest.
Extras — such as an auditorium and additional classroom space for special education — must be paid for entirely by locally raised dollars.
So, instead of a 59 percent to 41 percent split, the Buchtel/Perkins project is almost evenly divided, with the state picking up about $22.3 million and Akron paying nearly $22.6 million.
The auditorium is expected to cost about $909,000 and renovations to the existing competition gym will cost $1.3 million. Akron must pay for about 33,000 additional square feet without state help.
In November, the school board agreed to move forward with a $46 million plan that was controversial with some in the West Akron community because it requires the elimination of a football practice field.
The more detailed plans the board approved Monday were about $1.3 million less. A final set of plans must still be approved that will be detailed enough to put the project out for bid.
Early site work is expected to begin this spring with full construction starting in June.
Students will remain in the existing high school while the new one is built. Officials estimate the project will take two years and be completed by the summer of 2012.
In other business, the board accepted the resignation ''in lieu of termination'' of Ingram Myers, a 50-year-old special education assistant.
Myers was accused of dragging an autistic student by the ankles down a hallway at Ellet High School the week before the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
The district placed Myers on paid leave Jan. 19 while the case was reviewed.
Summit County MRDD also is investigating the Jan. 14 incident because the student is older than age 18, according to Superintendent David James.
John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792 or jhiggins@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the education blog at http://education.ohio.com/.
The Akron school board Monday approved a $44.8 million design to rebuild a combined Buchtel High School/Perkins Middle School.
The work includes an auditorium, a renovated gym and extra classroom space funded entirely by Akron taxpayers.
The project is part of Akron's $800 million school construction program that will shut down, renovate or replace every Akron school.
The schools double as community centers after classes let out.
The state generally pays for 59 percent of the basic cost of the projects, with a voter-approved city income tax increase covering the rest.
Extras — such as an auditorium and additional classroom space for special education — must be paid for entirely by locally raised dollars.
So, instead of a 59 percent to 41 percent split, the Buchtel/Perkins project is almost evenly divided, with the state picking up about $22.3 million and Akron paying nearly $22.6 million.
The auditorium is expected to cost about $909,000 and renovations to the existing competition gym will cost $1.3 million. Akron must pay for about 33,000 additional square feet without state help.
In November, the school board agreed to move forward with a $46 million plan that was controversial with some in the West Akron community because it requires the elimination of a football practice field.
The more detailed plans the board approved Monday were about $1.3 million less. A final set of plans must still be approved that will be detailed enough to put the project out for bid.
Early site work is expected to begin this spring with full construction starting in June.
Students will remain in the existing high school while the new one is built. Officials estimate the project will take two years and be completed by the summer of 2012.
In other business, the board accepted the resignation ''in lieu of termination'' of Ingram Myers, a 50-year-old special education assistant.
Myers was accused of dragging an autistic student by the ankles down a hallway at Ellet High School the week before the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
The district placed Myers on paid leave Jan. 19 while the case was reviewed.
Summit County MRDD also is investigating the Jan. 14 incident because the student is older than age 18, according to Superintendent David James.
John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792 or jhiggins@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the education blog at http://education.ohio.com/.
Comments
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Stow, OH
Posted 10:08 PM, 02/08/2010
Last time I was there, Perkins seemed in pretty good shape for a building in its sixth decade. What will become of that building when the new building on Copley Road opens? With appropriate remodeling, might it be a good site for the planned STEM high school?
Tepplin, DC
Posted 10:53 PM, 02/08/2010
Does the renovated East-Goodyear get a renovated gym? Do any of the high schools? Why does Buchtel get a renovated gym, when that was never part of the matched funding deal with the state?
East actually needs a new or a "renovated" gym more than any of the Akron schools. The existing one can barely seat 1,000 people. Compare this to Buchtel's, Kenmore's and Ellet's which each seat about 2,400. Or North's which seats about 3,000. Or Firestone's which seats 3,500 plus. Get the picture?
akron, oh
Posted 08:40 AM, 02/09/2010
Considering the economic climate, I find it irresponsible for the school board to entertain expendatures like this beyond what the State and City originally agreed to pay for.
Akron, oh
Posted 09:28 AM, 02/09/2010
We don't need the schools with our economy so bad. Put the money into the sewer project that Plusquellic and Sommerville ignored and we get fined for by the EPA.
If you are building the school make a detention room to hold the unruley students so they don't go out and pilage Akron with thier crime waves. Suggest it be a satalite of juvenile hall on Dan st.
Posted 01:03 PM, 02/10/2010
I have no idea what a STEM high school is, but I am hoping Perkins gets razed and the Akron school board sells the property for an apartment building or homes. Good riddance to Simon Perkins Jr. Middle School.
akron, oh
Posted 01:42 PM, 02/10/2010
Ignorance Kills,
Did you attend the planning meetings for the new East/Goodyear and express the need for a renovated gym?
