July 2019

PK8 Construction Video Recap

July 2019

CHAMPION PK-8 SCHOOL PROJECT WRAPS UP

Submitted by Pamela Hood, Superintendent

The Champion Local School District, in cooperation with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, is set to “close out“ the PK-8 school building construction project by the end of August or first of September, 2019. The construction project was completed on schedule and within budget.

The PK-8 school building was designed by BSHM Architects, Inc. and constructed through the management of Hammond Construction. The PK-8 school building was a two-year project from design through construction. The new school building opened to staff and students in August 2018.

September 2019

Central Elementary and Champion Middle Slated for Demolition

Submitted by Pamela Hood, Superintendent. 

The State of Ohio has allocated billions of dollars for the rebuilding of Ohio Public school district buildings.  This funding measure was passed nearly thirty years ago to assist public schools which did not have the financial resources  to address aging buildings.  The State devised an assessment to evaluate school facilities and put every school district in Ohio on a valuation list.  That valuation list ranked every Ohio school district from poorest valuation  to highest. The State then developed a ratio to helping co-fund each district facility project.  The poorest districts were funded by the State at  nearly 90%  State  dollars with the highest valuation  districts to receive a very modest portion of State help.  

When Champion Schools became eligible several years ago to take part in the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission Project for funding  new schools, the State assistance was 57% of the overall cost for rebuilding the Champion School facilities. Each Champion School building was assessed by the OFCC and ranked by degree of condition. Central Elementary and Champion Middle School received very low ratings by the State. Thus the State recommended both of these buildings be torn down and rebuilt.  

In accepting the State’s offer of co-funding for new school buildings the District  must comply  with the OFCC mandates.  Also in accepting the State money the District must comply  with the size and options for new buildings.  If a district wanted more than the State program permits,  the local district would be held responsible for funding  those options with its own dollars- no State help. 

As such Champion Schools have two new schools at a total cost  of $ 31 million dollars with the State paying $ 17 million of that total cost.  The State mandates demolition of any school building it is co- funding.

August 2018

Champion Local Schools’ PK-8 benefits local trades community

Submitted by Kim Adams, Hammond Construction

The new Champion PK-8 School is just weeks away from the start of school, with a grand opening and dedication ceremony planned for the community this month.  The new building will consolidate the district to a single campus located next to the existing Champion High School. The PK-8 school embraces flexible learning environments, including classrooms with moveable doors, partitions, furniture and state of the art technology.  The classrooms and gathering spaces are filled with light from large windows and skylights located throughout the building.

As you walk through the hallways, is it obvious to see what a positive impact this building will have on the students, but the untold story is what this project has meant for the Mahoning Valley trades industry.  Bill Schurman, President of Hammond Construction, says “there is an excellent caliber of subcontractors in the Mahoning Valley, making it a pleasure to work in the area.  The local trades demonstrate pride in delivering quality work”.  Many of the skilled trades people have personal ties to the community and school district.  “Having the opportunity to work near your home in our industry is not common, so for many of the workers on the Champion project, this has been uniquely rewarding”.

The school broke ground in the Fall of 2016 and started the building foundations in the spring of 2017.  At the height of construction, there were as many as 100 workers on site daily. During the 17 months of building construction, there was an average of 50 to 75 workers on site every day. For anyone who is familiar with the local trades industry, you would see many familiar names represented in tradesmen spread throughout the building. 

A total of 17 subcontractors were hired to work on the PK-8 building who are local to the Mahoning Valley (see full list in box below). The majority of the owners and workers for these companies live in the area, including Champion, Niles, Warren and Youngstown. One of the contractors who has been on site since the beginning is Tri-Area Electric, a company based out of Youngstown. Renee Cooper, a fifth year apprentice who works for Tri-Area, is also a Champion resident. Renee has lived in this community for the past 11 years and currently has four children in the district. Renee’s youngest son will be starting school this month in the new building. She has been on site every day since April of 2017 and the opportunity to work in her hometown has been a great experience. Renee says “I voted for the bond issue, I pay taxes in the district, and I am just really proud of this building for our community.”

The building dedication ceremony is planned for Friday, August 17^th at 5:30pm, with the building open to the public for tours from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

August 2018

CONSTRUCTION REPORT

• • Grading/seeding completed July
  • Classroom  furniture in place
  • Ceilings  completed
  • Flooring completed
  • Mechanical work completed
  • Curbing and Paving completed
  • Air Quality Testing  on July 28
  • Thermal Imagining of roofs done-no issues
  • Elevator final inspection July

PREPPING for DEMOLITION CES/CMS BUILDINGS

• • Auction of CES/CMS school Items completed
  • Safety fencing around CES/CMS building in July
  • Abatement CES-CMS building  -July/August

DEMOLITION TIME SCHEDULE

Demolition of CES/CMS schools buildings first WEEK of Sept.

Farewell Brochure  May 24, 2018 Click> CES & CMS Farewell Brochure
 

Saying Final Farewells to Champion Schools

May 25, 2018
Click here for Tribune Chronicle Article

Champion Central Elementary & Champion Middle School Complex map 2018

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Tribune Chronicle photographs "First L@@ks" Tour of New PK-8 School Complex
Monday, May 7, 2018


Photographs taken by Tribune Chronicle photograper Raymond L. Smith

CHAMPION TOUR TIME!
April 17, 2018

Champion Staff Tour New School Complex
March 24, 2018
Click here for Tribune Chronicle Article

Champion schools prepare for closing of two buildings
February 28, 2018

Click here for Tribune Chronicle Article

Tribune Chronicle Community News captures State of Schools Forum
Feb. 20, 2018
 

Champion township, schools talk outdoor learning center
February 9, 2018

Click here for Tribune Chronicle Article

New PK-8 School Renderings

State of the School Forum Invite

EVENT TIMELINES on PK-8 Construction            

December 2017

Construction priorities moves to building interior; windows and doors sealed; interior of building heated so interior work can begin.

Jan-July 2018

Interior installation begins: flooring, ceilings, drywall, lighting, and classroom cabinetry installations; as well as painting, playground installation, landscaping and seeding

April/May 2018

                Softball and baseball fields completed

May 3, 2018

                Public Tour of PK-8 School Building 4:00-7:00 P.M. (view progress since Oct. Tours)

May 31, 2018

• Open House-School Tours of Central Elementary /Champion Middle School 3:30 to 6:00P.M. 
• Farewell Ceremony for Central Elementary/ Champion Middle School at 6:00 – 7:15  on Central’s   front lawn

June 2018

• Asphalting of PK-8 parking lots/driveways AND  tear out and installation of new asphalt driveways and parking lots for CHS campus
• Removal of Central Elementary cap stones -to be re- installed in new PK-8 building
• Teacher materials removed from Central/CMS into storage –held until moved into PK-8 building.
• Auctioning of Central/ Middle School  Items-advertised to community
• Abatement of Central /Middle School

August 2018

• Dedication Ceremony of New PK-8 –6:00 P.M. Program followed by OPEN HOUSE TOUR of new PK-8 Building

September 2018

Demolition of Central and CMS-grading of the sites and seeding

Champion New PK-8 School - HOW TO BUILD A SCHOOL
January 22, 2018

Click here for Tribune Chronicle Article

Students Learn from Architect and Builder

Over the next three months, Champion students will have many opportunities to
learn about architectural and construction design. Brett Hendricks, AIA and
President of BSHM Architects, Inc. and Bill Schurman, P.E. and Partner of
Hammond Construction, will be working directly with Champion Central
Elementary School and Champion Middle School students as well as selected High
School students on a variety of design and construction projects.

Bill Schurman, P.E. Partner of Hammond Construction, shown at the PK-8 groundbreaking
ceremony with Champion Middle School Principal Heather Campbell.

CES students sharing knowledge of new Champion PK-8 School building blueprint 

Click here for video.

Champion New PK-8 School Complex Tour
October 5, 2017
Click HERE for Tribune Chronicle Article
 

Trib Today features Family Chromebook Night
Septmeber 29, 2017
Click HERE for Tribune Chronicle article
 

PK-8 Guided Tour Announcement

Farewell to CES and CMS
Click HERE for info
 

Champion Students sign Construction Beam for New PK-8 School 
August 28, 2017

Click HERE for Tribune Chronicle article
 

Construction Under Way for PK-8 New School Complex
June 18, 2017

Click HERE for Tribune Chronicle article
 

Champion STATE OF THE SCHOOLS FORUM
February 9, 2017
Click HERE for Tribune Chronicle article
Click HERE for WFMJ.com story

Champion Schools 2018 New PreK-8 window clings are here.
Available in each school office.  Get yours!

_______________________________________________________________________________

Champion Breaks Ground
Click HERE for Tribune Article Sept. 13, 2016

Champion School Complex Introduced
Click HERE for Tribune Article August 23, 2016

Champion reveals plans for new $31 million school building
Click HERE for video courtesy of WFMJ.com  August 22, 2016

Timeline Set for Champion School Construction
 Click on link below:
   Tribune Article August 6, 2016

The Driveway to Success - August 5, 2016

"Fast and careful" describes the equipment workers finishing new driveway work at the HS in preparation for the new PK-8 grade building project.

CHS driveway gets relocated in preparation for PK-8 Construction - August 1, 2016

The High School’s south driveway will be removed to accommodate portions of the PK-8 construction.  A turn driveway is being constructed on the east side of the HS to accommodate the bus traffic that will no longer have access to the HS south driveway.  The south drive to the field house is also be rerouted.  The new roadways will initially be graveled and  operating with the start of the school year. For more information contact the Superintendent’s Office at 330-847-2338.  

Work on $31 million Site set to Begin in Summer
Tribune Article May 17, 2016

The Champion BOE buys land for new school
Tribune Article April 19, 2016:  https://goo.gl/LXSBRo

Champion Awards School Complex Contract
Tribune Article March 31, 2016

The Board Chooses Construction Firm for the new PK-8 school.  
Hammond Presentation on Facebook 3/23/16
Website:    Hammond Construction  

Warner Concepts and BSHM Meet with School Staff

Chuck Warner with Warner Concepts and BSHM, meet with Central Elementary and Middle School staff members for their input into the design of a 21st century school design. BSHM is the Board's selected architect firm for the design of the new PK-8. 

>Selection of Architectural Firm

>Flexible Learning Presentation by Jessica Hrubik

>Land Sale OK'd to Champion Schools

>CLS Community Survey

>Minutes of State of Schools