by Amanda Harnocz
Reporter
Tallmadge -- The city saw new buildings erected all over the city in 2008, but possibly the most impressive structure constructed during the past year was the new high school.
More than 1,200 people toured the building following the Aug. 31 dedication ceremony. The first day of classes at the school was Aug. 25.
The building, which is about 170,000-square-feet on 58 acres of land at North Munroe Road and East Avenue, is the first new building in the Tallmadge City School District in 42 years, said Superintendent Jeff Ferguson.
"It certainly is a history-making occasion in our community," Ferguson said of the new school.
The decision to build a new high school was determined in 1995 when a study of the middle school building were inadequate and not in the district's benefit to improve, Community Relations Coordinator Nancy Wack had said.
The building was ready for the high school students on their first day of class in 2008 and the school was officially dedicated Aug. 31.
During the dedication, Mayor Christopher Grimm said he was pleased to see the building come to fruition and "proud to have the structure in the city."
"The building exemplifies the motto of our district -- 'tradition, vision, excellence'," School Board President Thom Craig said.
The new high school building includes state-of-the-art security systems, a 1,300-plus seat gymnasium, theater stage, 622-seat auditorium, ancillary gym, weight room, computer labs and multi-purpose room, among many offices and classrooms.
Voters approved a 4.69-mill, 28-year bond issue in November 2004 which generated the funds to build the $30.5 million high school.
The former high school building on East Avenue now serves as the district's middle school.
The former middle school building on North Avenue will be sold at auction this spring, according to Business Manager Don Johnson.
The building and property, estimated at approximately 126,900-square-feet, and its property, about 8 acres, is worth about $1.6 million, according to the Spalding/Emig Co.
E-mail: aharnocz@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3911