School options mapped
By BETTY J. POKAS, Times Leader Area EditorHIRING of an architect to determine what will be done with the former Woodsfield High School building, which was closed this week, will be recommended at tonight's meeting of the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District board meeting.
Superintendent Larry Elliott this morning said places to hold extracurricular activities also will be considered. The activities had been held at the former high school until it was closed because of fire code violations.
Elliott said the No. 1 priority is "to take care of the kids and secondly, to take care of our asset (the building). We're going to provide for our kids, and we're going to keep them safe."
To continue the students' access to extracurricular activities, it is necessary for them to move to other places, he added.
Plans to be considered at tonight's meeting are to have basketball practice and cheerleading at the Free Methodist Church gym, to have basketball games at the big gym at Skyvue Elementary School and to possibly rent a building at the Monroe County Fairgrounds for high school and junior high wrestling.
A location for drama is still in the planning stages, but utilization of Skyvue or the Powhatan Elementary School auditorium is being studied.
After the Woodsfield building was closed Monday as a result of an inspection by a representative of the fire marshal's office, the building principals were asked by Elliott to look for other locations where student activities could be held.
Elliott said he expects a large crowd at tonight's meeting and then added, "I think it will go well."
He commented the liability issue will be discussed, and the big question will be "What are we going to do about it?" He went on to say, "We'll take care of the kids; they have to be safe."
Elliott said he's going to ask the board to hire an architect to look at the old high school building to consider bringing the entire building up to code or a portion of it.
Twelve items were listed for correction in the fire marshal's report,which concluded with the comment, "You have many life safety issues that are code violations and may be a hazard to occupants. The liability is your responsibility if this building is used knowing these issues exist."
Elliott said although a levy will be considered in May for a new Monroe Central High School and a new elementary school, the space at the former Woodsfield High still would be needed for three or four years even if the levy is approved.
If the former school then is used for three or four years, a determination will be made at the end of that time about how to dispose of it.
The board meeting will begin at 6 in the school office at 304 Mill St., Woodsfield. It was reported incorrectly in Wednesday's newspaper that the session would be held that night.
Dating from the World War I era, the former high school building was enhanced by the addition of a gym in 1936. It was used for classes until Woodsfield and Skyvue high school students were moved to the Monroe Central facilities between Woodsfield and Clarington.
Pokas can be reached at timesleader@timesleaderonline.com.
