Some of the classrooms at East Knox Junior/Senior High School, which dates back to 1939, aren’t air conditioned.
“If two classrooms plug in a fan at the same time, we would blow the circuit breaker,” East Knox Local School District Superintendent Steve Larcomb told the Mount Vernon News. “We’ve had days when it got up in the mid-nineties in some of those classrooms on the third floor. We would either have to move students or provide them water or do both.”
Those days will be soon be over. Construction is set to begin on a brand new building, thanks to a $19 million referendum approved by voters last November.
“We expected to have the building cleared and ready for demolition by Jan. 4 and we should be ready for our first day of school in the new building by Sept. 6, 2022,” Larcomb said. He does not expect any construction delays because of COVID-19.
“Everything appears to be proceeding as scheduled,” he said.
The school system will bring in modular classrooms to hold some of the school's students while construction is underway. Classes will also continue in a 1994 school addition, which will remain.
“We’re very blessed to have the support of the East Knox community,” said Larcomb. “We’ll have modern facilities that are up to date and more energy efficient. We’ll be able to regulate temperatures to have a more conducive learning environment.“
The school board is offering tours of the old building before it is demolished. Tours are offered by appointment between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 21, 22, 29 and 30. Call the board Office at 740-599-7000, ext. 1002 to schedule a tour.
After the original building was constructed in 1939, additions followed in 1948, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1994 and 1995, Larcomb said.
“What I’m hoping is that they blend the new section to look similar to the elementary school building that was built back in the 2008 time frame,” Larcomb said.
East Knox Local School District was created in 1963 when the Bladensburg and Howard schools combined.
The Apple Valley resort area was developed nearby in the 1970s.
“About 70 % of our students now come from Apple Valley,” Larcomb said.
