New $15 million expansion of Talawanda school starts classes

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

The newest addition of learning spaces in Talawanda Schools has opened, and district officials say its much needed and welcomed.

The $15 million expansion of Marshall Elementary, which first opened in 1968, now features more classrooms in the two-story wing.

Chad Hinton, principal of Marshall Elementary, said the new, two-story wing is “wonderful, full of color and natural lighting.”

“The staff worked really hard to make the building warm and inviting for our students and the students have loved seeing our new building. The students already feel at home and we are excited about the opportunities for new learning experiences in our new building,” said Hinton.

The new class space recently opened despite some construction delays during the spring and summer, said Talawanda officials.

A combination of factors — many coronavirus-related — have played a role in the lumber price surge, local industry professionals said.

It’s the second expansion of the 53-year-old school.

And, said Holli Morrish, spokeswoman for Talawanda Schools, the Marshall expansion is the latest of series of moves over the years to both enlarge and modernize the learning spaces in the school system.

“In 2001 Talawanda School District partnered with the Ohio School Facilities Commission to begin modernizing our school facilities in order to bring the best technology and educational opportunities that we could to the children of our community,” said Morrish.

“In keeping with a neighborhood school model at the elementary level, we opened Bogan Elementary in 2006 in Milford Township, Kramer Elementary in the city of Oxford in 2017, and now a new Marshall Elementary in Hanover Township.”

“The new Talawanda High opened in 2012, and Talawanda Middle School has received several enhancements as well. It’s very exciting to be able to offer our students modern science labs, advanced technology, and collaborative learning spaces that are perfectly designed for the way students learn today,” said Morrish.

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