Genoa ponders fate of two schools to be replaced

10/19/2010

As progress continues on Genoa Area Local Schools' $24.4 million kindergarten-through-fifth-grade building that will open for next school year, the fate of the two schools it will replace is being determined.

Allen Central Elementary, which dates to 1942 and houses third through fifth grades, will be demolished next summer. The land on which Allen Central stands will be donated to Allen Township so it can continue to be used for soccer and other recreational purposes, Genoa Superintendent Dennis Mock said.

Brunner Elementary, which houses kindergarten through second grades in Genoa, is for sale and has a potential buyer, Mr. Mock said. Land with baseball and softball fields to the south of the building that dates to 1956, however, will be donated to Genoa to own and maintain.

The hope is to sell Brunner Elementary by next fall, otherwise, it too will be torn down instead of left vacant, Mr. Mock said.

The elementary for kindergarten through fifth grade is being built on the middle school and high school campus, so all of the district's students will be at one location. Windows were being installed last week, and the plan is to have the building enclosed by Nov. 13, Mr. Mock said.

"The roof is probably 90 percent completed," Mr. Mock said last week. "It's on schedule."