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Concern about the consolidation of the Ohio Schools for the Deaf and Blind continues to grow as demonstrated by the turnout at the Clintonville Area Commission's July 5 meeting at Whetstone Library.
About 75 people crowded the room to hear Eric Algoe, the school's chief operating officer, and Rob Grinch of the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission, explain the project's status.
The state released nearly $1-million last week to begin planning and design work for the consolidation effort. Nearly $4-million has already been earmarked by the state for that phase of the project.
Residents are concerned that they are being left out of the discussions about what may eventually wind up on any unused section of the 130-acre site near the intersection of High Street and Morse Road.
"Nobody disagrees that we need to provide an education for the children and we support the school, but many people don't feel that they are being candid with us about the future of the entire site," said CAC vice chairwoman D Searcy.
Searcy has been appointed to an advisory committee focusing on the consolidation. She said she is currently the only community representative on the committee, which she said is tentatively slated to meet sometime in August.
CAC chairman Chris Gawronski said he was encouraged by the fact that Searcy was appointed to the advisory committee.
"They seem to be committed to including us in the process," he said.
Many in the community want any open space created by the consolidation preserved, according to Gawronski.
"There's not a lot of open space left in that area or in Clintonville in general," Gawronski said.
Searcy said interest spreads beyond Clintonville, from Northland to the southern reached of Clintonville.
"People from all over Clintonville and Northland are interested in this project," she said. "They want to be included in the discussions, whether they live right near the schools or not."
Searcy said the mood at the meeting was one of distrust, but when Algoe and Grinch agreed to hold an open house event for the community concerning the consolidation, "it seemed that the people in the room settled down a little."
Grinch said the open house would probably take place in August.
"The open house will allow us to gather feedback and will give us a chance to tell them what's being considered," said Algoe.
Grinch said the open house would include information about the consolidation, the soil on the site and architectural drawings of the project that could cost as much as $40-million when completed in 2012.
Northland Community Council president Dave Paul said discussions between school officials and the surrounding communities have been marked by an air of skepticism.
"There is some distrust and there are a lot of rumors," Paul said. "But Eric (Algoe) seems dedicated to working with us. My sense is that the issues people are concerned about now won't be an issue for quite a while yet, and I don't see anything yet that poses a specific concern to the Northland area. But we want to continue to be involved as it moves forward."
The idea of building a football stadium for Bishop Watterson High School on the site is more than just talk, according to Searcy.
"Watterson has already drawn up plans for the football stadium and a track," she said. "Algoe went over to Watterson and looked at them."
Algoe confirmed that he reviewed the drawings for the stadium and track, but that the drawings were rudimentary in nature. He could not say who completed the drawings. Three messages for Bishop Watterson principal Marian Hutson seeking additional details about the drawings were not returned by press time.
The School for the Deaf, which has roughly 160 students, reinstated its football program just two years ago. The team plays its home games on a small field on the premises. Algoe said the current field would not meet the needs of a school such as Watterson.
"Bishop Watterson is landlocked and has no land available for a football stadium," he said. "They have a need and we have space. If someone else wants to partner with us, we're willing to discuss it. But a football field will be on the site one way or another because we have a team."
Project planning information is available on the schools' Web site, http://newcampus.osd.oh.gov/.
Concern about the consolidation of the Ohio Schools for the Deaf and Blind continues to grow as demonstrated by the turnout at the Clintonville Area Commission's July 5 meeting at Whetstone Library.
About 75 people crowded the room to hear Eric Algoe, the school's chief operating officer, and Rob Grinch of the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission, explain the project's status.
The state released nearly $1-million last week to begin planning and design work for the consolidation effort. Nearly $4-million has already been earmarked by the state for that phase of the project.
Residents are concerned that they are being left out of the discussions about what may eventually wind up on any unused section of the 130-acre site near the intersection of High Street and Morse Road.
"Nobody disagrees that we need to provide an education for the children and we support the school, but many people don't feel that they are being candid with us about the future of the entire site," said CAC vice chairwoman D Searcy.
Searcy has been appointed to an advisory committee focusing on the consolidation. She said she is currently the only community representative on the committee, which she said is tentatively slated to meet sometime in August.
CAC chairman Chris Gawronski said he was encouraged by the fact that Searcy was appointed to the advisory committee.
"They seem to be committed to including us in the process," he said.
Many in the community want any open space created by the consolidation preserved, according to Gawronski.
"There's not a lot of open space left in that area or in Clintonville in general," Gawronski said.
Searcy said interest spreads beyond Clintonville, from Northland to the southern reached of Clintonville.
"People from all over Clintonville and Northland are interested in this project," she said. "They want to be included in the discussions, whether they live right near the schools or not."
Searcy said the mood at the meeting was one of distrust, but when Algoe and Grinch agreed to hold an open house event for the community concerning the consolidation, "it seemed that the people in the room settled down a little."
Grinch said the open house would probably take place in August.
"The open house will allow us to gather feedback and will give us a chance to tell them what's being considered," said Algoe.
Grinch said the open house would include information about the consolidation, the soil on the site and architectural drawings of the project that could cost as much as $40-million when completed in 2012.
Northland Community Council president Dave Paul said discussions between school officials and the surrounding communities have been marked by an air of skepticism.
"There is some distrust and there are a lot of rumors," Paul said. "But Eric (Algoe) seems dedicated to working with us. My sense is that the issues people are concerned about now won't be an issue for quite a while yet, and I don't see anything yet that poses a specific concern to the Northland area. But we want to continue to be involved as it moves forward."
The idea of building a football stadium for Bishop Watterson High School on the site is more than just talk, according to Searcy.
"Watterson has already drawn up plans for the football stadium and a track," she said. "Algoe went over to Watterson and looked at them."
Algoe confirmed that he reviewed the drawings for the stadium and track, but that the drawings were rudimentary in nature. He could not say who completed the drawings. Three messages for Bishop Watterson principal Marian Hutson seeking additional details about the drawings were not returned by press time.
The School for the Deaf, which has roughly 160 students, reinstated its football program just two years ago. The team plays its home games on a small field on the premises. Algoe said the current field would not meet the needs of a school such as Watterson.
"Bishop Watterson is landlocked and has no land available for a football stadium," he said. "They have a need and we have space. If someone else wants to partner with us, we're willing to discuss it. But a football field will be on the site one way or another because we have a team."
Project planning information is available on the schools' Web site, http://newcampus.osd.oh.gov/.
