Huron finalizes Shawnee Elementary closure

HURON — Shawnee Elementary won't be needed after the current school year. During a recent public meeting, Huron Schools board members unanimously approved a resolution to officially close Shawnee Elementary. A similar board decision was made in December to go from four campuses down to three after community members gave input at public meetings. Closing Shawnee Elementary is part of the district's consolidation plan to save on operating costs. By closing Shawnee, Huron Schools is expected to save more than $73,500 annually. Beginning the 2023-24 school year, grades PK-5 will be at the Woodlands Intermediate building; grades 6-8 will attend McCormick Jr. High; and grades 9-12 and the board office will be at Huron High School. Shawnee, which has housed 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. Before the board approved the resolution, Huron graduate and Firelands Montessori Academy trustee Jim Murray relayed the private school's interest in buying the Shawnee building during the meeting's public participation portion. "This entire property probably took millions of dollars in taxpayer funding for the purpose of education," Murray said. "It would be such a shame to tear down this facility when it might have additional years for a community school like Firelands Montessori Academy." The private school is located at 329 Ohio St., beside McCormick Jr. High. With Montessori education, children can develop their love of learning individually by working at their own pace and moving throughout classrooms to participate in stimulating educational activities. Superintendent James Tatman said an appraisal was scheduled to occur by late February to determine how much the Shawnee building is worth, which will help board members decide what to do with it. In December, board members also voted 5-0 to change current Huron Schools leadership assignments. Next 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. 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. More action Huron board members also: • Discussed the Huron Joint Recreation District contract after meeting with city and township officials in late January for an hours-long meeting; Though talks with the other government officials were respectful, board members ultimately sided with their previous decision. In early January, school board members voted 3-2 to reject the proposed 2023 agreement, citing financial concerns. Historically, the district has renewed its agreement every year for about two decades. Since the early 2000s, the city of Huron, Huron Township and Huron Schools have collectively put taxpayer funds toward community recreation programs, district officials said. The school district usually contributes 10% of the joint recreation district's budget, while the city and township share 90% of the remaining costs. This year, Huron Schools was slated to pay about $49,400 toward the recreation district budget, Tatman said. In 2022, the district paid an almost identical amount after officially approving it in May, however, similar questions and concerns about district finances were brought up before the official vote. • Agreed to renovate the track at Huron Memorial Stadium; Work will include water drainage improvements around the property and begin in the spring. Federal funds will pay for this project. • Reviewed Huron Schools' previous strategic plan and agreed to develop updated strategic priorities for daily operations • Approved the 2024-25 school year calendar; The first day of school is scheduled for Aug. 22, 2024; winter break is Dec. 23, 2024, to Jan. 3, 2025; graduation will be May 30, 2025; and the last day of school is June 4, 2025. • Accepted almost $40,000 in donations, including a $35,000 donation from an anonymous donor to go toward replacing Huron High School's electronic sign _ Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood