Sandusky Primary's completion celebrated

SANDUSKY — Sandusky Schools' newest elementary building awaits its first students. Tuesday's ribbon-cutting ceremony at Sandusky Primary, attended by community members, district administrators, construction representatives and taxpayers, marked the completion of the school's construction. Last week, the community celebrated Sandusky Intermediate's finish. Sandusky Primary will be used by first- and second-grade students when Sandusky Schools returns to in-person learning. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sandusky will have virtual learning for nine weeks beginning Sept. 8 and lasting until late October. The number of cases, among other health factors, will determine when students will attend in-person classes. In November 2016, taxpayers approved Issue 12, the $72 million "Building Better Dreams" project, making it possible to construct Sandusky Intermediate for grades 3-6, Sandusky Primary and Sandusky Early Learning Center for preschool and kindergarten students. In Sandusky Schools' history, Venice Heights Elementary was the most recent district school to be constructed, in 1970. Sounding off In her address, incoming Sandusky Primary principal Rebecca Muratori listed Sandusky Schools buildings and programs implemented in the history of the district and thanked staff members who helped maintain them. Muratori previously led Osborne Elementary, which is closing this school year. "We are thankful for all those who thought of our families," she said. "There's a lot of people who are not here with us today who made (the facilities and programs) possible and everyone who worked in them did so for the children." Sandusky Schools administrators, including superintendent Eugene Sanders and board members, expressed gratitude for the community's support in addition to efforts by crews with Mosser Construction, Lesko Architecture and the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission from start to finish. Owners representative John Feick, who served as the liaison between construction crews and school officials, and buildings and maintenance supervisor Kevin Toms, also were acknowledged for their work. A few board members made connections to Ontario Elementary, which was located at Sandusky Primary's current site. Board president Brigitte Green-Churchwell recalled her teaching days at the former school. "Ontario was the only place I taught, and I'm excited for the learning opportunities to occur here," she said. "We talk about how it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a community to build a school. This would not be possible without Dr. Sanders, whose vision brought better learning environments to our students." Tom Patterson, who attended Mills Elementary, said his children attended Ontario. A granddaughter, Scarlet, can't wait to attend Sandusky Primary, he told the crowd of about 50 people Tuesday. "It's been a decade of planning," he said. "I know the community has worked very hard and this is what you get." Officials recognized Judy Corso, who served as the facilities campaign committee treasurer, and Gene Kidwell, a former educator and coach who was co-chair of the committee. "I'm honored to have worked in the district and serve with tremendous people," Kidwell said. "I'm looking forward to seeing this school and the intermediate school filled with children." Sandusky Primary's features The $15 million school is at the former Ontario Elementary site at 924 Ontario St. Sandusky Primary is expected to be occupied by 550 students within 67,300 square feet of space. More than 30 classrooms exist on two floors. First-grade students' classrooms are on the first floor and the second graders will meet on the second floor. Like Sandusky Intermediate, each classroom has a large, interactive touch screen teachers can use for lessons. Desks can be adjusted for students' growth. Walls on the second floor can be taken down to create functional classrooms in case teachers want to have combined learning sessions. The second floor's media center includes a library, and a study room with a computer lab is next door. The media center also has an interactive touch screen for small group instruction. Like Ontario Elementary, the gym can also function as auditorium space, since a stage was included. Playground equipment should have arrived by now, but the pandemic caused the factory to close. The equipment is slated to come by late September. Sandusky Primary bus traffic will come from Fifth Street through the back parking lot to drop off students. Meanwhile, parents can drop off their children on the north side of the building. These areas are separate for traffic control. Both new schools have modern safety features, like protected entrances before visitors can access the rest of the building. Other exterior doors will be locked and monitored. Additionally, both Sandusky Intermediate and Primary will have air conditioning, a commodity other district buildings didn't have. Sandusky Early Learning Center for preschool and kindergarten students, the final school building to be constructed, should open by 2022 at Hancock Elementary's current site. Demolition of the Hancock Elementary building started last week and is expected to take several weeks to complete. Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood