JACKSON CENTER — The year 2016 offered a new set of challenges for the Jackson Center School District.
“Over the course of the past 12 months, our teachers and staff spent a great deal of time continuing to work with their students, improving their academic and social skills, but additionally a great deal of time has been spent planning for the future with a new school building,” said Superintendent Willian Reichert. “The replacement of our 1928, 1954 and partial replacement of our 1965 additions has been a top priority over the course of 2016. The Jackson Center community commissioned us with constructing a school that will not only replace the traditional features of our older buildings, but will also carry us into the future with a modern, flexible space for staff and students. The new school will feature a media center, band room, gymnasium, cafeteria, stage, vocational/agriculture learning area, a new family and consumer science room, pre-k-6 classrooms and offices.”
His report continues:
Every attempt was made to design a new school that complements the addition completed in 2003 while taking into account all the changes in technology and student learning styles that have changed over the past 15 years. The building project also includes renovations to the remaining 1965, 1981 and 2003 additions as well as improvements to the grounds surrounding the buildings. We have been very blessed to team with the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission, Freytag and Associates, Peterson Construction and many other local businesses on this project and look forward to our public getting a chance to visit and use the facility. The new building project is currently on schedule with a completion date sometime this summer with the renovations to the 1965, 1981 and 2003 additions to follow in the fall.
In addition to the building project, the plan to start a 1 to 1 computer to student program and provide more “hands-on,” practical applications both inside and outside the building will continue into 2017. Fortunately, our general fund remained healthy over the past year due to a positive local and state economy and some fiscal reduction opportunities within the district. The general fund along with some private individuals and organizations will hopefully help us complete the parts of the building project that the state does not co-fund and accomplish all of our other education initiatives.
Continued academic success and progress towards completion of our building project will make 2017 a year full of great challenges and promise for Jackson Center Schools. The administrative team, in cooperation with the teaching staff and parents, will be focusing on the continued growth and progress of all students no matter how diverse their abilities may be.
We will do this by:
1. Providing a safe, friendly environment filled with high expectations that parents and students will recognize as soon as they enter the building.
2. Partnering with the village of Jackson Center and local businesses to provide opportunities for students to explore their varied interests.
3. Continuing to monitor the academic growth of students as well as their development into contributing members of society.
4. Ensuring that our staff is prepared for the challenges that come with educating students in the 21st century.
Please visit our webpage at www.jackson-center.k12.oh.us to discover all that Jackson Center schools has to offer.
