JACKSON CENTER — An end of an era will be celebrated next week.
As Jackson Center Local Schools prepares to start construction on a brand-new school building, the community is being invited to help say good-bye to the old one.
On Friday, April 1, at 12:30 p.m., students, faculty, staff, and the community will gather on the front lawn of the old school, 204 S. Linden St., Jackson Center, to listen to the memories of students who used the old school and dreams of how students will get to utilize the new building.
Senior Peyton Esser will talk about memories and life in the old school. Freshman Maelee Enochs will talk about memories from the old school as well as the anticipation of being in the new school during her junior and senior years. Finally, second and third-graders, Katelyn and Wyatt, will talk about the excitement of growing up and learning in the new school.
We really want the kids and their stories to be the focus, said Superintendent Bill Reichert.
The Jackson Center Band will be there to provide prelude music, and the junior high and high school choirs will sing the National Anthem. Sixth-grader Ross Ludwig will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Sophomore Maissen Akers will do the invocation and Junior Christen Ware will welcome everyone to the event.
Photos will then be taken in front of the old school, with students and staff and with alumni and the community.
The picture of the student body in front of the old school will be a chance to say goodbye, said Reichert, then we will move to the place where the new school will be built for the ceremonial digs.
Each student and community member will have the opportunity to take home a sample of soil and then the ceremony will conclude.
The new school is being partly funded by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. It is being designed and engineered by Freytag & Associates Inc. and constructed by Peterson Construction Company.
The building is set to be complete for the 2017-18 school year, if weather allows. In case of inclement weather on April 1, the ceremony will be held in the high school gymnasium.
