REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — A Reynoldsburg middle school will close its doors at the end of the school year.
The Reynoldsburg City Schools Board of Education voted on Tuesday to shut down Hannah J. Ashton Middle School at the end of the 2022-23 academic year after reports of much-needed repairs and maintenance that were needed to the building.
The school, which held about 450 students in grades 5-8, has been a part of Reynoldsburg City Schools since 1868. Repairs were made to the building five times with the most recent being in 2005.
The district says the 154-year-old building needs repairs to fix leaks in the roof, plumbing and exteriors in order for the building to remain fully functional.
While the building is safe and up to code, the district says that it would cost $18 million to make the necessary repairs and it would only allow the school building to be functional for about seven more years.
In 2021, a bond issue was placed on the ballot regarding the repairs and maintenance needed for the middle school and was voted down.
School leaders said there is currently no additional funding available to make repairs or replace the building.
With the vote of shutting down the school passing, the board provided more information on what would happen to its students for the 2023-24 school year:
- Grade 5 is added to all elementary schools.
- Waggoner Road Middle School becomes an elementary school.
- Grades 6-8 shift to Waggoner Road Junior High School and STEM Middle at Baldwin Road.
- All-day kindergarten would be available at every elementary school.
- Schools of choice for K-8 would be eliminated. The district says it would continue STEM/STEAM programming.
- Financial implications would include potential modifications to buildings to accommodate younger students and more enrollment.
The board says it will make the decision as to the future of the building.