Arlington says farewell to old school

ARLINGTON — Crews will begin demolishing the century-old former Arlington School on Monday, as teachers continue to set up classrooms in a brand-new school set to be dedicated on Aug. 1. Voters approved a levy to fund the new building in November 2022. A groundbreaking was held in May 2024 and the first masonry block was laid in February 2025. The district took occupancy in late May. Teachers packed their classrooms that week, and movers moved everything to the new school the week of June 1, said Craig Durliat, school board president. Contractors are now finishing their last tasks in the new building, such as some painting, and testing new kitchen equipment. The 1992 addition to the school will remain, and will be known as "the Main Street gym," Durliat said. An outside air conditioning unit is being installed. Kevin Haught is going into his 20th year as Arlington Local Schools superintendent, having served as Arlington Elementary School principal for seven years prior to that. The district enrolls about 625 children in grades K-12. "This is the centerpiece of what we do in Arlington," Haught said. That is, the whole village centers around the school. He said people who don't have children of their own come to attend school plays and concerts, as well as sporting events. Several alumni, feeling a connection to the school, are now teachers there. "This has been the pillar of our community since 1923," Haught said. "But it is a building. And we will continue traditions and we will continue what Arlington stands for in our new building, and that's about relationships and people." He noted that the new building is all on one level, with no stairwell. It will feature air conditioning, as well as electricity and plumbing that are expected to be consistently "functional and usable," Haught said. Teachers have begun moving in and setting up their classrooms. "The maintenance team has been unbelievable," Haught said. That team does work year-round. But many employees who normally have the summers off have been coming in, such as the cafeteria crew, who are moving over pots and pans to the new kitchen. Durliat said the school principals recently told the board that, when one teacher finishes setting up their classroom, they move on to help the next teacher rather than heading home for the rest of the summer. Along with moving in, school employees are receiving safety-related trainings on the new facility, such as becoming familiar with the furnace and how to do a fire drill. The school also includes a new vocational agriculture/industrial arts building. Outside the school, workers are putting the finishing touches on new athletic facilities. The new football stadium is named for Joe Metzger, Arlington's head football coach from 1975-1990 and 1996-2002. Metzger, who also coached track and field as well as girls junior and high school basketball, died at the age of 77 in April. The field was previously named to honor Harold H. "Doc" Castor, a coach from the 1930s through 1961. The full facility will now be known as the Doc Castor Field at Joe Metzger Stadium. The new bleachers are up higher, offering a better view of the field, Durliat said. Durliat noted that the concession building is larger and offers some picnic space beside it. "I served many a game out of the old concession" and the new one is a much nicer space, he said. The district also moved the baseball field and added a softball field and track. There is a mound in the middle of the athletic facilities, so parents who might have children involved in multiple sports can have a view of more than one game. The outdoor spaces also include a new playground area on the elementary side of the school, as well as a grassy area where students can play. A sidewalk connects the old building to the new building. While the entrance to the old school was off of the busy Ohio 68, the new school cannot be accessed from there, with the exception of athletics. The new design was built with safety in mind. The main entrance is now on Maple Drive. Durliat said the village plans to rename a portion of that street Red Devil Way, so the school's official address will be One Red Devil Way. The demolition of the old building will begin Monday and is expected to take two or three weeks. The community was invited to walk through the old school one last time over Memorial Day weekend, also the weekend of Arlington High School graduation. Durliat said he has spoken with people who have told him five generations of their family attended the old school. "It's happy and sad all at the same time, it really is," he said. Durliat said the district is looking toward the future but also intent on "honoring the past". To that end, the capstones from the old school building have been saved, with the goal of incorporating them into the new building. The community is invited to a dedication for the new school taking place at 10 a.m. on Aug. 1. Durliat said both architect Fanning Howey and contractor Robertson Construction have been great to work with. "We're very pleased," he said. The first day of school is Sept. 8.