Huron community has its students covered

HURON — Rain or shine, Woodlands Elementary School students are protected on their way to class. The youngest Tigers were welcomed back to school with a new feature outside their school: a covered walkway by the building's pick-up and drop-off car line. This new addition is thanks to an anonymous donation from the community, according to Brian Kucbel, Woodlands Elementary School principal. "We are extremely fortunate and grateful to the anonymous donor who made this project possible," Kucbel said. "I believe this generosity is a direct reflection of the Huron community and the value it places on our children and their education." The district's board of education accepted the donation of $115,000 on Aug. 18, 2025. About a year later, on Aug. 17, the district announced the project's completion on its social media. Kucbel: • Noted the same supplier and installer responsible for the 2024 Sandusky Transit System's bus shelter project, Global Industrial from Port Washington, New York, supported the district in its walkway project • Credited the district's maintenance team and Chad Carter, the district's director of operations, for preparing the site • Thanked those inside and out of the district who contributed to the project physically and financially The addition to the school campus will benefit not only the students but the full school community," he said. "It is a layer of protection against all weather elements that students, district officials helping with arrival and dismissal and community members using school grounds can use." Besides shielding against weather, the walkway adds a level of safety, according to Kucbel. Students have a defined and protected path from the building that makes a smooth arrival and dismissal process. "I often say that from the moment a student arrives at school, we have our first opportunity to make a positive difference in their day," Kucbel said. "This walkway supports that belief and our commitment to creating a safe, welcoming environment for every student. It is also a reminder that every professional, our buildings and grounds, and the overall school environment can contribute to a student's experience and make a lasting impact."