“Over the last several years, other renovations and repairs took precedence in the high school.” commented Ted Roseberry, director of operations for Orange City Schools, “We replaced roof trusses in the media center, auditorium, commons, and indoor pool while also making significant upgrades to those learning areas to better accommodate students and staff.”

However in 2019 and 2020, after a pause during the Covid-19 pandemic, the District decided to move forward with this project.

Board president, Scott Bilsky remarked, “This project has been discussed for many years. It is our hope these facility upgrades will serve the needs of current and future Orange students for years to come. “

First built in 1924, the original Orange Schools building received renovations and additions over the years which ultimately led to the inclusion of an auditorium, varsity gymnasium, and other athletic areas in the 1950s. When the original building was replaced with the current high school in 1973, those areas were retained. One of the larger spaces being repurposed in this renovation is the girl’s locker room, built in 1957.

“It was like ‘walking back in time’ when you went into these areas of the building,” commented Roseberry. “The old locker room was large with a lot of wasted space, but now we can put all of it to good use.”

By providing a variety of new training spaces, the District hopes to improve the entire athletic experience.

“We will have a more professional environment and a clean, crisp-looking environment for our students, bringing them into the modern age,” said Dr. Campbell. “All team sports have something to gain from the new upgrades. We’ll have better-allocated space for our teams in all seasons. Hundreds of student-athletes will benefit from our facilities.”

The District is spending $3.87 million on the project, which they have been saving for renovations of this sort through the District’s Permanent Improvement fund.

The new secure vestibule at Orange High School showcases the school’s entrance. Since the building is wide, it has been difficult sometimes for visitors to identify the main entrance. The vestibule serves as a focal point for the building and provides a greater presence on the site. It is also easier to control access for students during the morning and evening. A separate guest entrance will be used during the school day for visitor sign-in.

The average age of District buildings is 69 years old, and this aging infrastructure was increasingly difficult to maintain. The administration felt strongly that new facilities would put the district on a path to success It became clear it was time for the community to consider new school buildings.

In November 2018, district voters approved an 8.6-mill bond issue for $55.95 million to be used for construction costs associated with the project. Working together with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission through the Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP), the district plans to consolidate their 5 existing school buildings into 2 buildings, a 7-12 school and pre-K-6 school. They began designs for the 7-12 building first.

With funding secured, design began in earnest with educational visioning in 2019. The Lexington School District met with educators, community members, and local leaders to determine their educational priorities for their new facilities. 

Visioning combined with touring local schools allowed the administrators and designers to craft a layout that would suit the educational needs of the district.

Project architect, Scott Alleman commented “Lexington is a traditional community and they wanted to establish a forward-thinking model for education.” He continues, “They knew they didn’t simply want “double loaded corridors,” so we worked through a variety of layouts. It became clear what strategies would work best.”

Trends in teaching styles, curriculum and school layout have changed over the decades, with “traditional” double loaded corridor schools appearing in the 50’s and 60’s, more “open concept schools” appearing in the 70’s and 80’s, and more technologically advanced buildings replacing blackboards with computer labs and white boards in the 2000’s. Each generation attempts to improve the educational opportunities for their students. Methods that served communities decades ago may not be relevant in today’s fast paced, technologically rich environment.

Since so much time is spent in a school, it is important for educators and architects to work closely together while determining how to best design a learning environment to serve a community’s needs for decades to come.

This is where using a model of “Student-Centered Learning” helps determine timeless priorities that will serve students no matter the decade.

At 7:00 pm the ceremony kicked off behind the existing Wickliffe High School, with comments from Joseph Spiccia, Superintendent of Wickliffe City Schools, welcoming everyone and celebrating the beginning of construction. Afterwards, several dignitaries spoke, recognizing the years of work and community engagement that went into the project. Daniel Troy, an Ohio State Representative presented a commendation on the new construction project. “Over the years the Wickliffe City School District has played a vital role in preparing generations of students for the challenges of life. This new campus is a testament to those dedicated efforts.” Recognizing the challenges students face, Mr. Troy continued “This modernized hub of learning will not only allow that tradition of excellence to continue, but further enhance the ability to excel for students in a rapidly changing world.”

Kenny Yuko, an Ohio State Senator, presented a Senatorial Citation from the Ohio Senate to Mr. Spiccia. Both men who are longtime friends, having graduated from the same high school, shared the stage. Mr. Yuko recognized the diversity of ages and backgrounds from those in attendance: “This is the beginning of a new era for Wickliffe. A new school campus is going to help your students, your families and it will help the entire community. Thank you for ensuring your dream become a reality.”

The event featured musical performances which included the national anthem, performed by the Wickliffe Swing Band and the school’s alma mater by the combined Wickliffe High School and Middle School Choirs. They are looking forward to expanded practice space and upgraded spaces in the new school.