As one Karns City project nears end, more on the horizon
As the Karns City Area School District winds down its elementary school renovation, new district projects may be on the horizon in the next couple of years.
Superintendent Eric Ritzert suggested Tuesday afternoon that upon the completion of the Karns City Area Elementary School expansion, upcoming years will see school district projects small and large, including a potential renovation of the high school.
At the school board’s Monday, Jan. 13 meeting, items regarding the elementary school expansion coming to a conclusion in the near future were discussed, according to Ritzert.
The building, previously called Chicora Elementary School, houses all elementary students in the district since the closure of Sugarcreek Elementary School in May. Ritzert said completion of work on the interior of the building is expected near the end of February. Exterior work, such as paving for one more parking lot and sidewalk work, will occur once temperatures increase.
The district is looking into offering a community open house some time in February once work is done, along with a more formal dedication some time after.
“We feel it’s important to allow residents and parents to come in and see the inside, we think they’ll be pleased,” Ritzert said.
There were also concerns expressed by some parents and neighborhood residents on what to do with the former Sugarcreek Elementary School. Instead of outright selling or losing control of the building, the district is currently gauging interest in possibly leasing the building. The district published an ad in legal notices Friday and the board was made aware the attempt to lease has been made public.
Ritzert told the Butler Eagle that in the coming months, he and the board will also be discussing projects ranging from resurfacing the high school’s track to a larger renovation of the high school building.
Ritzert envisions some time around the summer 2026 as a good time to resurface the track, add new LED lighting. He also discussed looking into the viability of the baseball and softball fields.
A high school renovation would be down the road, he said. But Ritzert expects conversations around the topic to pick up steam. He also expects a special meeting date to be set some time in February for further discussion.
The majority of the current Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School was built in 1981 and the last renovation occurred in 1995. Ritzert said there are parts of the building that date back to the early 1960s. He said the building is structurally in good condition, but there are aspects of it — such as windows, heating and cooling, and electrical work — that need to be repaired.
“It is my desire to get the board to take a look, because these things take time, and we have to assess financially how much we can address, which will determine priorities,” Ritzert said. “Getting the board involved and employees, and the community, and what they expect, is part of the initial planning processes. It takes a full year of planning, even more to get our bids. By year three, you might be in a position to see some type of progress.”
