The West Carrollton (Ohio) school district is constructing two new schools that will replace buildings that opened in the 1950s.
The Dayton Daily News reports that the Walter Shade Early Childhood Center, the new building for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade students, will be a 94,854-square foot structure.
C.F. Holliday Elementary, a new building for fifth and sixth grade students, will be a 70,840-square-foot structure.
Constructed in 1954, the existing Walter Shade ECC is a 57,988-square-foot building for pre-K through kindergarten. C.F. Holliday is 50,875-square-foot building constructed in 1950 and one of of three elementary schools housing first through fifth grades.
The existing buildings are aging, says Jack Haag, the district’s business manager.
“The buildings lack air conditioning, they are in need of major upgrades in plumbing, electrical and HVAC,” Haag says. “The classrooms are undersized by today’s guidelines.”
The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission is covering 81% of the cost of the projects. A bond issue passed in November 2019 will provide money for the district’s 19% portion.
The new Walter Shade Early Childhood Center will have an estimated capacity of 742 students in 2022, and the new C.F. Holliday Elementary will have an estimated capacity of 538 students.
Superintendent Andrea Townsend says the age and infrastructure of existing buildings "have prevented us from being able to meet the demands of electricity, technology and classroom space. The new buildings...will be a source of pride for our students and the community.”
The architect for both schools is Garmann/Miller Architects Engineers, and the construction manager for both projects is Shook Construction.
