JEFFERSON — For decades, Jefferson students have been educated in the iconic Jefferson Area Junior/Senior High School. But, when the condition of the school quickly declined, a window of opportunity opened itself to the Jefferson community.

After an inspection performed by the State of Ohio in 2004, Jefferson Schools were moved to the top of the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission List, meaning Jefferson was in desperate need of new schools. The bond issue was approved in May 2005, stating that the community was responsible for one third of the new schools’ cost. Impressed with the work Brent Buehrer did on Grand Valley High School, Jefferson School Board hired him to design the new high school. After bleak enrollment projections, Buehrer was faced with eliminating 18,000 square feet from his original plan in one month in order to bid on an early site package. The rush made it possible to approve bids on April 30, 2007, days before the community’s share of the new school’s cost rose to 39 percent. This 6 percent comes out to $2.2 million which tax payers save and in turn utilized that money to create the new Falcon Pride Stadium and possibly a wind generator turbine at the high school. Bids, which went exceptionally well according to superintendent Doug Hladek, were approved at 8 a.m. and at noon Mr. Excavator Inc. was breaking ground.

Buehrer credited the Jefferson School Board when explaining how deadlines were met and work was completed in a timely manner. “Your local school board put their differences aside and placed the community first. This saves time and money and the school reflects their efforts,” he said.

It has been two years and five months since ground was broken, and “the point of no return has arrived,” emphasized principal J.C. Montanaro. He laid emphasis on the date of Nov. 2, the day students will walk through the doors of the new school. For some students, this will be the first time they walk through the halls of the new school. New lockers, classroom location and change in daily routines will pose some problems, but these problems are expected and worked into the transition equation. Teachers and staff, already familiar with the school, will be more than welcome to assist students in finding a destination.

Mr. Hladek looks not to his staff for help, but to the class of 2010 to lead the school. “A key to success of the first day lays in the seniors’ hands; they are great leaders and will make the move as smooth as possible,” he said.

With so much time and effort devoted to building our new school, there are no surprises with the results. Mr. Buehrer not only designed a school with great potential to host the educational process, but he gave the school a touch of style and class, from Falcons engraved into the masonry work to the cafeteria being trimmed in a deep oak colored wood. A huge addition this school brings is the auditorium, able to be utilized for concerts, bands, choirs, shows and musicals. This adds a great deal of appeal to Jefferson Players, the high school’s production club. With facilities like this, productions can be much more elaborate and professional.

“This auditorium is much better than any other school’s in the area, I will be so proud to produce in such a venue,” said Carolyn Behr-Jerome, producer and leader of Jefferson Players.

The new library/media room, outfitted with more than 50 of the latest computers, will serve as a place to study and expand one’s knowledge. Such technology will help aide in the education of Jefferson’s future.

Everybody involved with having the school ready is giving the extra effort for it to be ready by Nov. 2.

“There is a lot of work to be done, but this crew has yet to let me down. Everyone is putting in their extra effort to have it ready,” said Mr. Hladek.

Movers began transferring all materials not in use into the new school. Masons are busy finishing the floors around the building. A special cleaning crew is in place to give the school a final cleaning before inspections start. Various permits are required before any students can start learning in the school, such as occupational permit, safety permit and serving permit, to name a few. One section that will not be completed is the gymnasium. Moisture content in the gymnasium has never dropped below the required level, and laying the floor now will cause the wood to “cup” or “bow.” Hladek says he hopes to have the gym ready for the first boys basketball game.

One of the biggest hangups that is delaying students from entering earlier is the public address system and the telephone network. These two key components are vital to communicate during emergency situations. The school cannot function without these systems, and this is why the move date was pushed back to Nov. 2 from Oct. 15.

The future of Jefferson is looking bright, with the new schools at the epicenter. The new facility will be a place to foster education for years to come, these new schools will be the place that the youth of Jefferson can mature into great young adults. Mr. Hladek’s excitement is overwhelming when asked the future of Jefferson. “The long term value in the new schools is immeasurable, I have to pinch myself every day seeing all the new great things in this community,” he said.