School’s new media center dedicated, signifying completion of construction project

City and school officials, as well as teachers, community residents, and students gathered to celebrate the completion of the Onaway Area Community Schools construction project and the opening of the new media center. The August 26 ceremony, in the newest of the additions, the recently completed media center, was attended by about 100 people, and included speeches from superintendent Bob Szymoniak, school board members, student representative Tori Hawley, and city manager Joe Hefele.

“Not only have we fixed up the school, but the entire town is undergoing what some would consider a Renaissance,” Szymoniak said. The event included the presentation of a plaque to the school board, which was a cardboard lookalike of the soon-to-delivered original, and the official ribbon-cutting by president Sue Nelson.

“THIS CERTAINLY is an exciting day, not only for the students of the Onaway Area Schools, but for the greater Onaway community,” said Hefele. “This will be a great asset. The improvements to the school, along with the many improvements that are ongoing in the community, are going to make for a great place to live. It already is a great place to live.” The project was made possible by the voters of the Onaway school district in September 2002, when they approved a $6 million bond issue for additions and renovations to the school. “Many people played a large part in the design and creation of the improved Onaway Area Community Schools facilities,” said Szymoniak, “led most importantly by our board of education and their Facilities and Equipment Committee. The committee consists of secretary Mitch Winfield, Kevin Welklen, and vice president Jeff Whitsitt, who served as the committee chair. “Jeff played a central part in the entire project and we owe (him) a debt of gratitude for his many hours of service,” Szymoniak commented. “I would consider this a special accomplishment for Jeff as his father was on the board of education when both the Millersburg and Onaway schools were built.”

SCHOOL BOARD student representative Tori Hawley said it was a little more than a year ago that administrators met with the students in the cafeteria to show them plans for the media center. “None of us could have imagined it,” Hawley said during her speech. “I am surprised now that I look at these wonderful things.” She said construction during the 2003-04 school year was distracting at times. “Thank you to all of the teachers for understanding that some guy hammering on the building was much more interesting than your class,” said Hawley, which brought laughter from those in attendance. Szymoniak also commended the teachers: “I was in classrooms when contractors were running power tools outside the classroom windows. The teachers didn’t miss a beat. I was in the classroom when the teachers had to pack a

nd then unpack and they did it with a smile. They showed a great deal of patience and flexibility and I appreciate them for it.”

THIRD YEAR teacher and an OHS Class of 1997 graduate, Marty Mix said he is proud and impressed with the improvements. “With all of these exciting changes we’ve seen take place throughout the summer this past school year, our staff is very eager to get going with this new facility and the technology that will now be available,” said Mix. “Having this facility will be a great tool for our students and staff to help achieve maximum academic standards.”

During the ceremony, the custodial crew was honored with Cardinal pins for “consistently going above and beyond the call of duty to accommodate all the contractors, to help students and teachers, and to get school ready while under the time gun last year and this year,” Szymoniak said. Receiving pins were crew chief Don Comfort, John Tribisondi, Dan Zampich, Linda Preseau, Brian Haskell, Greg Viehl, and Mike Domke. The architects, construction manager, and contractors also were commended. After several months of planning, the construction project began June 9, 2003.

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