New Kramer Elementary Open For Learning

By Abbey Gingras

Miami University journalism student

When Kramer Elementary students returned to school on Jan. 9 after winter break, they returned to a brand new building.

Although the 69,000 square foot school is just a few steps away from the old one, the change in venue has been drastic for the students and teachers using the facility every day.

"It's a great learning environment for the kids. They love it, the teachers love it. It's designed for them," says Kramer's principal Jason Merz. His new office, and much of the new building, is flooded with natural light from large windows — a big change from the old building's tiny and infrequent glimpses of the outside world.

The new facility boasts colorful walls and furniture along with breakout rooms for students to learn in smaller groups. It also offers a media center, a classroom for students with autism, and an elevator for handicapped accessibility.

Construction finished in December, with teachers using part of their break to pack and move classroom materials with the help of a moving company. While tables, chairs, and other furniture stayed in the old building, items like books and games had to be transported.

The furniture that stayed with the old building will be auctioned off Saturday, Feb. 11 starting at 10 a.m. to the highest bidder, with funds going back into the Talawanda School District.

Some items were donated to the community, such as freezers from the cafeteria that are now at the Oxford Community Choice Pantry.

The best part of the new building for Merz is the increased safety measures for students.

"You have to be buzzed in the outside doors from the main office, and then you have to be buzzed in through a second set of doors before you can get into the building," Merz says. "The safety of the kids is absolutely the most important for us."

The next step of the construction process is the demolition of the old elementary school, which will take place after the auction is over.

"There is additional parking planned for that space," says Holli Morrish, director of communications for Talawanda School District. "As soon as the demolition is completed, they'll start prepping the site. It will be done this summer, and our ribbon cutting is set for August."

That ribbon cutting ceremony will be the official opening of the new facility, marking the end of all related construction even though students are already in classes in the new building.

According to Morrish, everything has been running on schedule with the project so far. Having the old building to use during construction was key to keeping the students on track.

"It was great that we were able to keep the students in the old building while we were building next door," she says. "And that there was no cost to the taxpayer."

The money for the new Kramer school came from the state of Ohio and funds from the previous construction of the new high school in 2012 and the new elementary school in Milford Township in 2006.

Photo: Parents, bus drivers, and Kramer staff spent more than a year navigating construction as the new elementary was built. -- Photo by Abbey Gingras.