Update: Shawnee Elementary to close

HURON — Huron Schools will house students in only three buildings next school year. At Tuesday's public meeting, Huron board members unanimously agreed — by voting 5-0 — to close Shawnee Elementary, effective the 2023-24 school year. It's part of the district's consolidation plan to save on operating costs. By closing Shawnee, Huron Schools will save more than $73,500 annually. This change means students in preschool through fifth grade will attend the Woodlands Intermediate building; grades 6-8 will be at McCormick Jr. High; and grades 9-12 and the board office will be at Huron High School. Shawnee, which houses preschool through second-grade students, was constructed on Cleveland Road East in 1953 for elementary students, according to the Huron Historical Society. "A 14-room addition was added in 1964 funded by taxes from the DuPont plant located in the Huron Industrial Park on River Road," the organization's website states. Board member Elizabeth Laffay and board president Jody Mast thanked Tatman for hosting the recent public meetings to gather community input. "We're trying to set a new precedent here," Mast said. "We want to listen to stakeholders and the public." Tatman returned the gratitude to the board for suggesting the public meetings. "Ultimately, it was a good experience," he said. "I believe it gave the community a good opportunity to see Paul and I and understand how we think and the perspectives we bring to the district. It also confirmed for me that Huron is a wonderful place and the schools are awesome. I hope people left there feeling their input was heard, valued and considered, because it was." Leadership changes After agreeing to close Shawnee Elementary, board members also voted 5-0 to change current leadership assignments. Starting the 2023-24 school year, these changes will occur: • Current Shawnee principal Brian Kucbel will lead Woodlands Intermediate • Current Woodlands principal Mark Doughty will become McCormick Jr. High principal • Current McCormick principal Chad Carter will assume new responsibilities as the district's full-time operations director, effective Aug. 1, 2023. His principal contract will end on July 31, 2023. Huron Schools' former operations director Denise Zielske resigned Aug. 4. Before that, since October 2019, Zielske oversaw the school district's transportation, food service and maintenance departments as the district's first operations director. By having Zielske's position, it combined transportation, food service and maintenance director positions so the district can run more efficiently and save taxpayers about $12,000 to $15,000 in personnel costs, district officials said. Carter has filled in as Huron's transportation director since Zielske's departure and before the operations director position was created a few years ago. December discussions Earlier this month, Huron Schools officials hosted two public meetings at Huron Public Library to discuss possible consolidation of district school buildings, with McCormick Jr. High and Shawnee Elementary being considered for closure. "When considering long-term planning options of a single or dual campus design, McCormick and Shawnee are the two buildings least likely to be included in those plans," Tatman said earlier this month. "While the long-term plan is not yet set, Huron High School and Woodlands have the greatest potential for renovation and addition if a new build is determined to not be the solution." "Existing facilities can support either of the two (consolidation) arrangements based on current and projected student enrollment," Tatman continued. Features that were weighed when considering which school to close include McCormick's stage, gym and locker room space, both schools' proximity to other district buildings for busing, among others. The two consolidation plans that were considered: Closing McCormick Junior High • Grades PK-3 would attend Shawnee Elementary building • Grades 4-8 would attend Woodlands Intermediate building • Grades 9-12 would attend Huron High School Projected savings: $71,000 Closing Shawnee Elementary • Grades PK-5 would be at the Woodlands Intermediate building • Grades 6-8 would be at McCormick Jr. High • Grades 9-12 and board office would be at Huron High School Projected savings: $73,550 "The desired outcome of this consolidation is to lower fixed costs now while the long-term solution is determined then implemented," Tatman said. "The long-term project from start to use is multi-year, justifying this work for short-term gains on operational efficiencies." _ Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood