Construction in full swing at Liberty-Benton campus

The Liberty-Benton Eagles' dream of having one nest to call home is still very much a work in progress, but it's coming together. Renovations to Liberty-Benton High School are ongoing this summer, but are expected to be complete by the start of the 2022-23 school year on Sept. 6. The renovations, which total $5 million, include roof upgrades, technology and security improvements, and classroom changes. The improvements are meant to extend the life of the building. Construction of a new entry for Liberty-Benton Local School district's football stadium and additional concrete work is also expected to be completed by fall. Superintendent Mark Kowalski said the work, being completed by the Adena Corporation, of Mansfield, cost about $400,000. Construction of the district's new 128,000-square-foot building for prekindergarten through eighth grade is also moving along, Kowalski said. He said the school is more than half done. "They're actually already painting some of the classrooms, so it's coming along," he said. The facility is expected to be completed by spring 2023 and will be open for students, at the latest, by the start of the 2023-24 school year. Included in the construction is an 800-seat performing arts auditorium, also set to be completed by spring 2023. The $45.6 million project is in partnership with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. The local share is $25,594,646, and the state share is $19,981,455. In May 2019, district voters approved a 35-year, 7.3-mill bond issue to fund the project. Of the 7.3 mills, 6.8 mills were for construction and a half-mill was for continuing maintenance. Collections, already at a reduced millage, began in January 2020. Reduced debt and good financing options helped to lower the millage. An existing bond issue for construction of the district's high school expired in January 2020. Voters had rejected two previous proposals, one in 2008 and another in 2013. The oldest part of the current elementary/middle school building is nearly 100 years old and is no longer big enough for all of its students. The building is supplemented by 10 modular units, the oldest two of which date to 1986. Grant: 419-427-8412