More school design plans
shared with local board
Editor's Note: This is the second part of a two-part series concerning the Ohio School Facilities Commission plans for local schools.
By BECKY BROOKS
Enterprise Editor
clydenews@bizwoh.rr.com
Clyde-Green Springs school superintendent Todd Helms shared details of plans pending for South Main, Green Springs and the new middle school during a June 23 school board work session.
South Main
The traffic pattern around South Main School will be changed in the new plan. There will be a bus drop off drive off Fairhome Avenue and a drive in front of the building off South Main Street as well with off street parking around the building.
"We want kids on buses separate form kids going out in cars," Helms explained.
The playground will be behind the building and visible from the side streets for security.
There will be a 3,000 square foot dining area that seats 240 youths - separate from the gym. There will be 1,600 square feet in the kitchen - triple the size of the current kitchen.
Green Springs
Helms explained there has been a snap with the new school building location. The "L" shaped school is set toward the back of the district property behind the current school - but that requires that the new playground be place in front of the new school building, he said.
While Green Spring police chief Charlie Horne supports the design for security reasons, teachers want the playground behind the new cafeteria, Helms said.
The superintendent said the playground in front would be fenced and be at least 70 feet back from Ohio 19 and Academy Street- located almost where the front of the current school stands.
There would also be a parking lot between the playground and the east wing of the school building, but children would enter and exit the building without crossing the parking area.
The superintendent reported moving the school forward on the parcel would put it within feet of the existing building during construction and eliminate the current playground for two years.
The design of the building itself has grades grouped in wings. Kindergarten through third are in a one-story wing to the west while the rest of the building would be two stories with the gym and lunchroom in the center.
"I'm with Charlie Horne, I like it in front better," board member Thomas Conley stated Monday.
Middle School
Elchert explained the plans for the new middle school - to be located on 30 acres off Limerick Road west of Ohio 101 - are tentative. The plan is to group classes from one team or grade into a "pod". Eight classrooms would be grouped around an open area - four on one side and four on the other and a special education classroom on one end.
The pod would have moveable walls so the common area could expand and students could work jointly. Each classroom would be 810 square feet - larger than any current McPherson Middle School classroom.
The classes would then have access to 2,200 square feet in the common area.
The common area will also house a row of individual restrooms for use by that grade.
"This one is just a sketch at this point," Helms said about the middle school design.
The pod idea is based on a school on Ocoee Middle School in Florida, Elchert reported.
Both Helms and Elchert were concerned about after school exit and entrance to the building when other groups were using the gym and cafeteria in the tentative design.
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