PIONEER, OH (Toledo News Now) - The North Central School District is hoping to move operations of their high school into a brand new building, but they'll need help from voters to make it happen.
The building began its life as Pioneer School back in 1923. And after 91 years of operation, officials of the North Central School District feel it's time to move on.
The nearly century old school building holds 175 high school students. The current classrooms show their age. Wiring for Internet runs across floors and science classrooms have no science lab.
"We've maintained our facilities pretty well we believe, but it's pretty tough to do some of the modern techniques," said North Central Junior and Senior High School Principal Tim Rettig.
The proposed new high school would be built just south of the existing structure and would connect to the junior high through an auditorium and cafeteria.
The project would cost a total $9.4 million. A levy on the May ballot would raise $2.3 million towards construction.
District officials believe voters will approve the 1.4 mil levy because this year is the final year of the 20 year, 1 mil bond issue that helped build the elementary school.
"We don't want to fool anybody. It is a new levy. But, the millage is coming off of the Elementary, and we will basically be replacing it with an issue to build a new high school," said Superintendent Ken Boyer.
North Central Schools is hoping the longevity of the original high school will act as a standard of excellent for the new school building.
"Just enhance the whole learning process for our high school kids. We think it is just a unique opportunity that has been given to us here at North Central," said Boyer.
