Page 31 - spaces4learning, Summer 2022

themed areas. One of our key design partners, Inventionland Education, de- signed and constructed several of our age-appropriate areas.
We first learned about Inventionland Education during a tour of their
state-of-the-art campus. Because being in a smaller rural community that covers 118 square miles certainly has its challenges.
As we know, there is not a single solu- tion for students and their families as they go through the educational system. We are committed to providing students with opportunities for the future. This includes earning a living wage, having opportunities for advancement, and hav- ing access to healthcare as our students begin their next stage of life.
We believe that the future is different for everyone. We want to provide the foun- dation for success, however it’s defined. Ev- ery student should have options, whether it’s going to college, learning a trade, join- ing the military, or exploring business and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Another aspect of the new build is the advantage our students will have by taking some of the advanced learning options. This includes students enrolled in our College Credit Plus classes (taught by KSU instructors on their campus or ours), allowing high school students to graduate with an Associate Degree. Students can also explore the healthcare
KeyBank Foundation, Envision Education, Inventionland Education, the Buck Insti- tute for Education, and the Ohio Facilities and Construction Commission. Regarding costs, a little over half was paid for by the Ohio Facilities and Construction Commis- sion, with the rest of the funding coming from the school bond proceeds, communi- ty partners, and Berkshire Local Schools.
We were also fortunate to receive a $2-million donation from Great Lakes Cheese, a premier manufacturer and packager of cheese, for our new athletic facilities.
This partnership should pay big div- idends for the entire community moving forward. Students will benefit from the modern campus, with the ability to get a jumpstart on college, learn a trade or enter the healthcare arena.
The community will benefit from graduates who are well prepared to excel in today’s job market, and more robust real estate values from improved school rankings. In addition, Kent State Uni- versity gains a local and consistent source for higher education students. I said this from the onset: This is a vast “win-win”
facilities with faculty and staff. On our way back, we discussed how it would be groundbreaking to have their style of immersive spaces as part of our new cam- pus. They’re one of the most significant invention factories in America.
EVERY STUDENT SHOULD HAVE OPTIONS, WHETHER IT’S GOING TO COLLEGE, LEARNING A TRADE, JOINING THE MILITARY, OR EXPLORING BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES.
for everyone involved. With access to additional trade job opportunities, students have another option to make the American Dream a reality.
Although delayed from con- struction supply chain issues throughout the pandemic, the school will open in August 2022. School and communi- ty leaders will celebrate with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 9th at 6 p.m., and the
The areas that Invention-
land developed include a kin- dergarten cabin area, 1st and 2nd-grade castle, a treehouse
space for our 3rd and 4th graders, a pi- rate ship for 5th and 6th-grade students, a robot space for middle schoolers, as well as unique maker spaces for our high- school students. In my opinion, these unique spaces help foster creativity while working perfectly with our project-based learning approach.
Our new auditorium can seat up to 620 people and will be the centerpiece for large gatherings, concerts, and stu- dent performances.
What we’re most proud of is the way our community came together to build this new
field with our nursing program through University Hospitals or begin to learn a trade, such as diesel mechanics on our campus, or through the many programs offered at the Auburn Career Center.
This comprehensive partnership was made possible by the entire community working together. This includes the 99- year ground lease from Kent State Uni- versity, as well as our local community, which voted overwhelmingly for the new school bond. Other partners include Uni- versity Hospitals, Auburn Career Cen- ter, the Geauga Growth Partnership, the
public is welcome to attend. There will also be a livestream of the event.
John Stoddard has been the superinten- dent of Berkshire Local Schools since 2017. Before Berkshire, Stoddard spent 17 years at Oak Hills Schools, a suburban Cin- cinnati school district where he held the role of Principal for J.F. Dulles Elemen- tary School, Rapid Run Middle School, and Oak Hills High School. He brings a strong team-first approach, and his proj- ect-based learning philosophy has helped transformed learning at Berkshire.
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