For years, the school building on Delaware Street housed younger kids no older than sixth grade.

This year — to accommodate a districtwide school construction project — Ironton City Schools officials moved the younger kids to another building and brought high school kids to the Delaware Street site until the new high school is completed.

The high school students are determined to make sure they stay is a positive experience for the neighbors by organizing a cleanup of the schools grounds.

“The neighbors are not used to having high school kids around and we are trying to show we care,” student council member Zachary Jenkins explained.

That sentiment was echoed by fellow student council member Bub Johnson.

“We want them to know we are respectful, that we respect them and that we are willing to help,” Johnson said.

The student council has taken its turn collecting litter and tidying up the grounds. Other groups will likely take their turn in the future.

The old high school is being demolished to make way for a new building being constructed in its footprint. A new combined elementary and middle school is being built on Delaware street next to the existing building. The new schools should be completed by 2009.