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Smith Discusses R-2 District Goals at Chamber Luncheon Superintendent Dr. Linda Gray Smith spoke to a large crowd of Chillicothe Area Chamber members yesterday (Wednesday) about the Chillicothe R-2 District’s goals during the group’s monthly Chamber luncheon at the Grand River Inn. The district’s goals Smith dwelled on dealt with facility needs, finance, student achievement and technology. Smith told the group that the district is taking a close look at its facilities to ensure that they are appropriate to house students and promote education. “That sounds simple enough, right? But, we have lots of buildings in this district,” Smith said. She explained that the Grand River Technical School is overcrowded, but the new agriculture facility being planned at the Litton Agri-Science Learning Center will help solve that problem. Smith said that all the ag classes currently taught at the GRTS will be moved to the new ag building, opening up space in the technical building. Smith also talked about the need for the razing of the old Chillicothe High School building and its possible sale. “It makes me sick to think that the old high school building has to come down because it’s beautiful and has a lot of history,” Smith said. Unfortunately, she said, the building has bricks falling from it, the chimney on the north side has been braced to prevent it from falling, and the building leaks water. The disrepair of the old portion of the building, Smith said, is starting to affect the newer 1960s portion of the school, with cracks now forming in the band and choir rooms. “As painful as this is for everyone, the board has decided that the old high school has to come down,” Smith said. The R-2 board, she said, started thinking about the possibility that someone may be interested in buying the building, which is currently used only for two classrooms and some office space. She explained that someone may be interested in the old building for salvage or to use for fill for another project. This would be ideal, Smith said, because if so, the district would not have to foot the bill for tearing the building down and carting it away. If this occurs, Smith said, the two classrooms being used in the middle school would be moved to the classroom space existing already under the Fieldhouse. “Those kids would be in a safe environment to continue quality education,” Smith said. She also said that in the past, some people have expressed interest in buying the Churchill property where the R-2 administration building is located. In terms of finance, Smith said that schools are, in essence a business with the job of educating kids. In order to educate kids, Smith said, the district has to be financially sound and pay attention to the bottom line. |
