Pioneer school looking great after 2-year project
March 9, 2012
Bryan Bullock
Mansfield News Journal
SHELBY -- For as long as some Pioneer Career and Technology Center students can remember, their school has looked like a work in progress.
They've been surrounded by unfinished floors, wires hanging from ceilings and drafty spaces that sometimes fluctuate in temperature.
But that's all over.
After more than two years of construction and renovation, Pioneer celebrated the completion of its sprawling building project Thursday. Elected officials, business leaders, community members and past and present school staff gathered at Pioneer for the dedication of the $34 million building project.
"This is a very, very special day," Pioneer Superintendent Glenna Cannon said during a ceremony in Gale J. Leimback Arena. "The Pioneer staff couldn't be prouder to bring this newly renovated building to our constituents."
Cannon spent more than 20 minutes thanking all the people who made the project possible, a testament to the massive undertaking.
The more than 40-year-old school at 27 Ryan Road has been completely renovated. Officials say more than 550 new doors were installed, 2,200 light fixtures were put in and 1,000 pounds of duct work were suspended.
The project took 400,000 man-hours to complete and 10 million pounds of construction debris were diverted or recycled along the way.
Construction began in summer 2009 and concluded this winter.
State Rep. Jay Goyal, D-Mansfield, said the building project, which was partially funded with state money through the Ohio School Facilities Commission, is an investment in the future.
"If we're going to grow our economy and create good-paying jobs, it is going to be because we have an educated, talented workforce," Goyal said. "It's institutions like Pioneer who are at the forefront of educating and training our workforce."
