Continuing coverage
The Springfield News-Sun has provided unmatched coverage of the renovation of former South High School since an area consortium of schools was awarded an $11.3 million grant a year ago, and was the first to report about the joint effort between John Legend and the Springfield City School District to renovate the school’s auditorium.
Springfield City School District leaders are seeking public suggestions for the new name of one of the city’s most iconic buildings.
The original Springfield High School, built in 1909 and later known as South High School, will reopen in August after significant renovations.
The sprawling building modeled after the Library of Congress will be home to the Global Impact STEM Academy, the Greater Springfield CareerConnectED Center and Clark State Community College’s Food Science and Technology Center, thanks to an $11.3 million state grant and funds raised by Clark State and GISA.
Eventually the plan is have a minimum of six school districts sharing space in the building as well as opening some areas for community use, like the gym and auditorium. Grammy and Oscar-winning singer John Legend has pledged to raise $500,000 towards renovation of the auditorium, which the district plans to match.
Because of those new and varied uses, the Springfield city schools board of education thought it would be appropriate to give the building a new name to reflect the broader community.
“The facility itself and the purpose of the facility is drastically changing,” said board President Ed Leventhal.
Instead of the board picking a name, they wanted to open the process up to everyone to make suggestions.
“We felt it might be more appropriate to give more people the opportunity to develop some ideas,” Leventhal said.
A committee of community leaders has been selected to review all name submissions.
Forms to submit a name are available at the SCSD administrative office, 1500 W. Jefferson St., or on the district’s website, www.spr.k12.oh.us.
Completed forms must be submitted to Sandy Weiss in the superintendent’s office by 4 p.m. June 24. They can be submitted in person or emailed to Weiss@spr.k12.oh.us.
The committee will review all submissions and recommend a new name to the board for approval at its July 9 meeting.
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