T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Todd Thackery, left, vice president with the architectural firm SHP, outlines the planned construction of new school facilities for the Shadyside Local School District on the site of Leona Middle School during a Wednesday public meeting. Superintendent John Haswell observes. It was announced the district secured a delay for the planned summer demolition of Leona Middle School to allow for further planning.

SHADYSIDE — The demolition of Leona Middle School as the first step to a new complex will not go forward this summer as planned. The Shadyside Local School District has secured a delay from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission to allow more time to secure funding and to plan elements such as the layout of the proposed school and how middle schoolers will attend classes in the meantime.

That was the top announcement during a public meeting Wednesday at the Shadyside High School gym, where the bleachers were filled with parents and community members who had questions about the plan.

Superintendent John Haswell said he had only very recently received word from the OFCC that the delay had been granted. He said the district has “one year or more” to proceed, and would retain the 75% match for costs. He said a delay also features in the contract with Raze International, which has bid to do the demolition.

“I hope everybody can breathe a little easier now, knowing that June 5, Raze International’s wrecking ball is not going to be taking Leona down,” Haswell said.

“We did the work, we know what we can do in the future. Now we can sit back and concentrate on what we need to concentrate on,” he said. “We have spent years and years and years in this district just trying to survive.”

Haswell also invited speakers from the architectural and engineering firm SHP to explain the situations.

Todd Thackery, vice president with SHP, outlined the situation, noting the district is locked into this percentage and has been for several years. He said it is necessary to demolish the middle school, since the OFCC requires a commitment to lock in the state share of 75%.

Regarding the local match, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the district had secured a $30 million enterprise zone agreement with PTT Global Chemical, which has been considering the construction of an ethane cracker plant at Dilles Bottom along Ohio 7. Haswell said the company has invested in the area — including a donation of $1 million for the discreet portion of the project.

Should the cracker plant not become a reality, Haswell said the district would consider putting a levy on the ballot.

The cost of the project was estimated in the $40 million range and with inflation it would now be $53 million. The residents were assured that the local match would always be 75%.

Dan Roberts of SHP, who was a prior superintendent, teacher and coach in the Ohio school system, spoke about the advantages of quality school facilities on learning and in drawing new development to an area.

Haswell said he has hope for House Bill 733, or the Appalachian Accelerated legislation, which could expedite funding processes and possibly cover an additional 20% of the local share if a community passed a levy on its first attempt, although Haswell said this is the best-case scenario and the they would not know if the bill was in effect until July 1.

Haswell reminded the public that in 2013 the community was asked to pass an emergency levy of 4.6 mills, and it was not put on the ballot four years later. Haswell said a new levy based on today’s costs could be 5.6 mills and hopefully a temporary measure until funds were built up.

The district intends to have a complex for kindergarteners through 12th graders, but first the Leona Middle School would have to be torn down for the proposed new school to go in its place. The third and fourth-graders would attend Jefferson Avenue Elementary while fifth- and sixth-graders would go to the high school, separated from the high school students. Preschoolers would move to the educational building at St. Mary Church.

“I’m confident we can make a safe environment for the children,” Haswell said.

Residents were generally in favor of new school facilities, but had concerns regarding whether the funding would be forthcoming when needed. Many also had misgivings about placing middle school students in the same building as high schoolers.

Rosanne Clouscon recalled a situation in the 1960s where she had to attend middle school in a high school.

“I survived, my classmates survived,” she said.

Jay Johnson replied that times had changed since those days.

“It’s a different world today,” he said, adding he believed there was a danger in placing middle school girls in the same building as 18-year-olds. “I think it’s a terrible idea, whether it’s this year or next year or whatever it is, and I think we need to find a different solution.”

Haswell said he understood the concerns.

“I trust my people to make sure your kids are safe everyday,” he said. “Here’s the beauty of this: we now have another year to have these conversations and look at different things.”

John Poe asked who would be responsible for the abatement of Leona. Haswell said PTGCC had provided $1 million for abatement and demolition.

Sue Ferrelli had questions about the potential timeline. Haswell said by next year the district would have more time to plan, prepare and learn about new factors and funding.

The preschoolers would have classes at an educational building belonging to the St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Board of education member Dom DeFelice has been in contact with the church and said they have also agreed with extending the agreement.

Haswell promised demolition would not go forward until funding is secured, and all information related to the project would be placed in the district’s website, shadysideschools.com. He said the district would seek input from the community in planning the facilities.