EHOVE project finishes early

MILAN TWP. — On Aug. 31, EHOVE Career Center students can experience their school's newest improvements when they return to campus. The third and final phase of the vocational school's $13 million facilities project finished ahead of schedule and under budget, superintendent Chris McCully said. Originally, construction was slated to finish by early July. The amount saved — about $500,000 to $600,000, — will go toward roof repairs in the near future. "We worked hard to save money and give kids the best in design and opportunities," McCully said. The project's third phase required an addition built west of Building A to accommodate EHOVE's culinary and public safety programs. The new teaching kitchen and community/demonstration room were completed in early February and have already been used by students before Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine shut down schools for the pandemic. In the spring, EHOVE's new criminal justice program and firefighter/EMT program labs and the renovated Young Chef's Inn student restaurant and restaurant kitchen finished. In the firefighter/EMT lab, students will be able to use an ambulance simulator to prepare for emergencies. The criminal justice lab has a simulator that will be used by students and community law enforcement employees for training exercises. About 37,000 square feet of new construction and 16,400 square feet of renovation work made up the entire project. The Collaborative Inc. of Toledo, and construction manager, Adena Corp. of Mansfield, oversaw design and construction, respectively, and EHOVE's taxpayer base is covering the project's costs. Crews broke ground on the project last summer by renovating portions of Building A. When classes began last August, students returned to find a larger cafeteria, classrooms and a new media center with a collaboration room for about 12 students and movable seating for 30 people. In January, an addition to Building B for EHOVE's teacher academy and early childhood programs opened. The addition's new rooms are about 1,400 to 1,500 square feet with bright colors and an abundance of natural lighting. All classrooms have a sink and storage areas with lockable storage and the playground remains on the building's east side and the early childhood area has upgraded security, including a doorbell camera. The last areas to be completed are the cafeteria kitchen, other culinary spaces and the new student health clinic. Work for these spaces was supposed to start June 1 but moved up to April 6 when Ohio schools were shut down due to the coronavirus. Right now, enrollment for the upcoming school year is about 840 students, but officials believe it will increase because of the facilities project. EHOVE leaders hope to have an official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new spaces in October, McCully said. HOW EHOVE will return? The vocational school, like other area school districts, will utilize both in-person and online learning, known as a hybrid plan, beginning Aug. 31. "We will continue to monitor our service counties' COVID-19 data prior to the start of the school," officials said. Each student will head to EHOVE's campus for in-person classes two days a week, either Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday and work on assignments online three days a week. Families needing internet connectivity assistance can contact EHOVE's technology department. "Career tech programs will focus solely on teaching skills when students are in the building, while theory or related education will be done on remote learning days to maximize hands-on learning with specialized equipment on the days students are in the building," officials said. "On days of remote learning, students are expected to keep their normal school routine of doing school work during the day while teachers are available for assistance." While on EHOVE's campus, students and staff must wear face masks when social distancing isn't possible. Exceptions will be made for those with medical conditions. All classrooms will have six feet so students can take a break from their masks. The school's custodial staff will increase sanitizing of classrooms, restrooms and common areas. In addition, sanitation systems will be used to disinfect hard surfaces daily. Find information about EHOVE's COVID-19 protocols at ehove.net. Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood