MILLBURY, OHIO -- Lake Local Schools officials are working diligently to determine where they go from here after a tornado tore through Lake High School June 5.
High school administrators met with lawyers and representatives from insurance companies on Tuesday to discuss what portions of the Millbury school building can be saved, if any. The structure saw extensive damage in the tornado and was deemed unfit to host graduation ceremonies the day after the storms hit.
Lake High School officials held a press conference Wednesday morning at Owens Community College to address where students will attend classes in the fall.
“Owens Community College is committed to providing assistance to Lake Local Schools in its efforts to rebuild the educational facilities damaged and destroyed by the tornados that devastated the Northwest Ohio region,” said Dr. Larry G. McDougle, President of Owens Community College. “We are proud and honored to lend a helping hand to our educational neighbor and ensure that their students succeed and receive a high school education in one location.”
Over 430 students in grades 9 through 12 will attend all classes at Owens' Center for Development and Training building in Northwood beginning this August. Courses regularly offered by the high school will also be offered at the 53,500 square-foot Owens facility and will be instructed by Lake's regular teaching staff.
“Lake Local Schools is extremely appreciative to accept the offer of Owens Community College to use one of the College’s buildings as a temporary solution to house Lake High School students for the 2010-11 school year,” said district Superintendent Jim Witt. “Our district is grateful for the generosity provided by the Board of Trustees, President McDougle and their outstanding staff.”
As for Lake's old home, Witt says it may be more cost effective to tear everything down and start from scratch. A contractor says a new Lake High School building will not be ready before January 2012.
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