Byesville Rotary gets update on Buffalo Campus renovation

Pictured: Joe Waske, Byesville Rotary President, Dan Coffman, Principal Buffalo Campus, and “Grizz” Smith, Speaker Host for February.

Readings for next meeting:

• February Rotarian, "Dare to dream," pp. 44-47.

Program change for next meeting:

• Program will be skills students from Buffalo Campus. Jim Vaughan's presentation "Trip to Alaska" will be rescheduled to a later date.

Grizz has scheduled a Rotary Gazebo landscaping meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 22, after the regular Rotary meeting. It will last 45min-1 hr. This will be an idea session.

Dan Coffman, Director at the Buffalo Campus, Mideast Career and Technology Centers, updated the Byesville Rotary about the renovation project on the Buffalo Campus.
Buildings on the Buffalo are about 40 years old and badly in need of updating. As a result of a recently passed levy, the Buffalo Campus now has the means to renovate its facilities.

Renovation is a joint project between the local school board for the Mideast Career and Technology Center and the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC).Both organizations are partnering in the design, funding, and building phases of the project. As part of this partnership, the Mideast Buffalo Campus is putting up $10 million and the OSFC is matching that amount with $20 million.

Currently, Buffalo Campus and the OSFC are in the design phase of their project. Enrollment on the Buffalo Campus is up 35%. This has lead to overcrowding in the academic classrooms. One of the goals of the renovation is to reduce crowding by adding more academic class rooms. Project leaders would also like to connect the two buildings. The new construction joining the buildings will be used for academic classrooms. Finally, 2 new science labs will be constructed.

Buffalo Campus wants to renovate without affecting classes. Cooperation between the contractors doing the construction and the Buffalo Campus administration is vital so that classes will not be interrupted by the construction.

Coffman hopes that he will be able to include some of his students in the construction by developing internship or job shadowing programs.

If all goes well in the planning stages, renovation should start this summer. The project should be completed by 2013.

Buffalo Campus is now accepting applications for all programs offered on the campus. Some of the programs offered are auto technology, building trade, dental assisting, and health technology. Students interested in applying should talk to their school counselor.For more information contact 740-685-2516, 1-800-551-1556 or visit www.mid-east.k12.oh.us

Byesville Rotary’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, October 12, at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Larry Miller, 740-439-2767.