Farewell, Shawnee Elementary

HURON — Even though Shawnee Elementary is closing, its traditions and values won't be forgotten. On Saturday, more than 30 people gathered to reminisce about and say goodbye to the school, which housed Huron Schools students in preschool through second grade for several years. Shawnee closed after the 2022-23 school year and will be auctioned off publicly. During the event, visitors could roam the halls one last time after a brief ceremony. Board president John P. Jones said he attended Shawnee as a first-grader and returned to Huron for fourth and fifth grades. "This is tough on all of us, but it's also an amazing beginning of some great things that I see happening in our community," Jones said about Shawnee's closing. "We have to take this first step, and it's going to get a lot better." He reiterated that, with the upcoming consolidation, no district employees were laid off. "I love this building, but I'm glad to see us as a community moving forward," Jones said. Longtime preschool teacher Karen Berry remembered former Shawnee principal Tanny Vonthron, who passed away in 2014. Widely beloved, Tanny was Shawnee's first principal when the school reopened after being unused for a few years. "Tanny loved her children — she called them all her friends," Berry said. "She loved caring for her staff members and considered them family." Before she became Shawnee's principal, Tanny adopted the smiley face symbol. "When she came to Shawnee, that smiley face was displayed throughout the school," Berry said. "She loved the color yellow and she loved her smiley faces. They became the Shawnee symbol — she gave that gift to us." Over time, the yellow smiley faces spread beyond Shawnee Elementary and into the community, and several residences still display them in Huron today. "I challenge all of you to take that with you — Tanny would not want her passionate spirit to remain here," Berry said. "She would want these character traits to be adopted by each of us: To shine like a light before the community, she would want us to guide our youth to live like Tanny — boldly with joy, kindness, compassion and integrity. We'll always remember her." Brian Kucbel, who finished up his eighth year leading Shawnee Elementary, reassured the crowd that not everything will change next school year. "Even though we're changing buildings, the staff will stay the same; the parents and families will remain the same; and our community will remain the same," he said. "The foundation that was laid here and at Woodlands will come together. "At Woodlands Elementary next year, it's going to be a special place because of all of us, and I'm looking forward to being the best colleague, friend and leader I possibly can through this transition and continue to make a positive impact on our students' lives," Kucbel said. What's happened so far Earlier this year, Huron Schools board members officially agreed to close Shawnee Elementary 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 P-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. The consolidation means that building leaders will shift; Kucbel will lead Woodlands Elementary; current Woodlands principal Mark Doughty will become McCormick Jr. High principal; and current McCormick principal Chad Carter will assume new responsibilities as the district's full-time operations director, effective Aug. 1. His principal contract will end on July 31. 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. During May's public meeting, the board agreed to auction off Shawnee Elementary on Monday, July 17, with the beginning bid price at $1 million. The roughly seven-acre property, including the school building, was appraised for $1.6 million, district treasurer Paul DeMarco said. The possible turnover date to the property's new owner is Sept. 1. Multiple parties are interested in buying the property, superintendent James Tatman and DeMarco said, but they didn't say who. But, at March's public board meeting, 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. _ Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood