MINGO JUNCTION - The new Indian Creek Junior High School plans are full steam ahead as officials met Friday at Hills Elementary School to celebrate the groundbreaking.
Voters in the district passed a 3.45-mill bond issue in the November 2008 general election which resulted in the district being able to build a new middle school on school property. The project also is being partly funded by the Ohio School Facilities Commission.
Superintendent Jene Watkins addressed the crowd Friday, which included current and past school board members, county officials and U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-St. Clairsville, and told them, "this project is one that you will be proud of."
Cheryl Lyman, spokesperson for the OSFC, also was on hand for the event. She congratulated the school district and the Mingo Junction community as a whole.
"It is an honor to be here today. I am very excited for your community," she said. "During these difficult economic times, a lot of communities haven't had the chance to support their school and community like you have. This project is going to be fabulous because of the wonderful community involvement."
Lyman also expressed her support for MKC associates, the professional design company for the project.
"I feel confident leaving this project in the hands of MKC and know that they will provide you with a high quality product," she said.
The state-of-the-art facility, slated to be occupied by students in January 2012, will include three separate wings for sixth, seventh and eighth grades, up-to-date classrooms and technology, a 3,000-square-foot library, computer labs, a reading room and a cafetorium. The facility also will be equipped with security cameras, a separate event entrance and parking lot and a new state-of-the-art kitchen.
Watkins noted administrators will "make sure that money raised in Jefferson County will stay in Jefferson County."
"This is a $16 million project and we hope to use all of it to boost the local economy," he said.
Watkins also quoted the late Ohio State University football coach Woody Hayes saying, "We are going to pay it forward because you can't pay it back.
"Our intent is to help rebuild what needs to be rebuilt," he said. "We are very excited about this project; it is going to be a great addition for the school district as well as the community and something that we will all be proud of."
(Looman can be contacted at jlooman@heraldstaronline.com.)
