GOSHEN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Kindergartners and other young students at Marr/Cook Elementary this week began using a newly renovated media center, completing a facility project that returned the space to its original purpose as a school library.
The room had been serving as the Goshen Local School District’s central office. District departments moved out after the Board of Education bought and renovated the former KinderCare building on Patricia Boulevard, clearing the way for crews to convert the Marr/Cook space back into a library, according to the district.
“We’re so excited for our Marr/Cook students to enjoy this new library and to have the chance to open up other classroom space throughout our building,” Principal Chalee Stevens said in a statement. “It is a bright, welcoming space that we can’t wait for everyone to see.”
The combined project — covering both the media center overhaul and the Patricia Boulevard renovation — cost $1.3 million, the district said. The work was paid for through the district’s Permanent Improvement fund and proceeds from the previous sale of district-owned Greene property, requiring no additional local tax dollars.
The renovated media center includes flexible learning areas, a dedicated storytelling area and new furnishings, the district said.
“When we set out to address our district’s growth, our top priority was returning every square foot of school space back to our students,” Superintendent Brian Bailey said in a statement. “With growth continuing to come to Goshen Township, we knew we had to be creative and cost-effective.”
The district worked with SHP Architecture and Design on both the library and the Patricia Boulevard renovations. A public open house for the new Marr/Cook facility will be announced at a later date, the district said.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Goshen Local School District.