Ground to be broken for renovations at blind, deaf schools

[Miss-Delectable]

Columbus Local News: > Archives > Region > News > Ground to be broken for renovations at blind, deaf schools

The Ohio School for the Deaf and Ohio State School for the Blind were slated to hold groundbreaking ceremonies at their respective facilities Tuesday, May 26.

The first event was set to take place at 10:30 a.m. at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Ohio Department of Education spokesman Scott Blake said in an information release.

At the conclusion of the school for the deaf event, speakers and guests were to traveled to the Ohio State School for the Blind, 5200 N. High St., for its ceremony at 11:30 a.m.

Planned speakers included:

* Deborah Delisle, superintendent of Public Instruction, Ohio Department of Education;

* Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland;

* State Rep. Kevin Bacon (school for the blind only);

* Mike Shoemaker, executive director, Ohio School Facilities Commission;

* Deborah Cain, vice president, State Board of Education of Ohio;

* Ed Corbett, superintendent, school for the deaf; and

* Cynthia Johnson, interim superintendent, school for the blind.

In addition, during the groundbreaking at the school for the blind, one of the shovels from the 1951 groundbreaking was used, and the school's marching band was set to perform.

The schools have occupied their current locations since 1953 and construction on new facilities at each school will begin later this year.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2011, Blake said.

For more information about the construction project, visit the Web site new campus.osd.oh.gov.