Finding a common bond
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 29, 2005
If school officials were looking for new ideas, they got exactly two of them; if they were looking for public input, they plenty of that.
City residents filled the Ironton High School auditorium Thursday evening to speak their minds on the need for new schools.
The board of education called the special meeting to ask for new ideas to bridge the divide between those who want to build new schools and those who want to build new schools but also save the high school as an historic icon.
A levy to build new schools failed by 185
votes in last week's election.
Ironton Port Authority members provided two ideas they hoped could make both sides happy. Port authority member Rob Slagel proposed acquiring the old River Valley Hospital site two blocks away and building a new high school there, thus saving the high school for other purposes.
Slagel said he had been in contact with officials at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital officials and believes such an acquisition is possible.
“I feel confident you can get it at no expense and there are Clean Ohio Funds available to level the building,” Slagel said. “There would be one to two blocks to build on. I wouldn't be standing here today unless I thought this were possible.”
The port authority's other idea is to construct a new high school on the Heplar Street side of the school property between the street and the sidewalk.
Slagel said if the land where the bus parking and greenhouse are factored in, there is more square footage in that space than there is in the actual footprint of the building. Again, the existing structure could be saved and used for other purposes.
After the meeting, port authority members and school officials agreed to meet today to discuss the ideas.
“This is the first I've heard of any of this,” Nance said after the meeting.
Many of those who attended the meeting reiterated why they voted as they did, either for or against the levy.
“The building is beautiful but beauty is only skin deep,” Rick McKnight said. “I'm willing to work to get this levy passed. Let's get this done. let's work our butts off to see the levy passed.”
But Oakie Ford said the high school is a part of the community's heritage that is worth saving.
“I know young people can't understand how important heritage is,” Ford said. “The people who are for saving the school are not against the levy or against children.”
Nick McMahon said he had voted against the levy last week. But given a second chance, he will vote differently.
“I haven't been able to sleep since I voted against it,” he said. “It's painful to think about this school being torn down but Mrs. (Linda) Gagai took me on a tour and showed me things I hadn't seen.
They've taken good care of the school. I'm proud of the way they've taken care of it but it's got to be taken down and replaced.”
Shawn Spencer said she was concerned that school officials had not planned -or planned well enough - what to do with high school students while the old school is torn down and the new one built. She also questioned the wisdom of building a new elementary school and middle school in a flood plain with limited access when flood gates go up. She said perhaps more thought could be given to saving the high school.
“If it can't be saved then it can't be saved, but Ironton's history could be its best drawing card. You have a great deal here but you don't seem to realize it,” she said.
Nance said it is impossible at this point to have firm ideas on where high school students will be placed while a new school is built but that the school board could make the best decision possible.
Thursday's meeting will be followed by a noon meeting Saturday during which the board is expected to approve language to place a levy on the ballot for a special February election.
The board will meet in regular session at 6 p.m. Monday at Whitwell Elementary.