SHELBY — It’s going to be a busy summer throughout Shelby City Schools’ campus.
A new roof will be installed by Simonson Construction at the Shelby Board of Education building and fresh asphalt will be laid in several spots around campus, along with other routine maintenance work.
Among this summer’s projects is an overhaul of the current Shelby High School library, which is set to be renovated into a science, technology, engineering and math room.
During its meeting Monday evening, the Shelby Board of Education awarded the construction contract for the STEM room renovation to Branham Builders, LLC.
The Attica-based contractor submitted the lowest bid at $439,050 — which is $160,950 less than the project’s estimated cost of $600,000.
Shelby Superintendent Michael Browning said the district will be using funds from a $1.1 million state grant to cover the renovation project.
This past September, the district was awarded $1,162,109 for manufacturing programming through the Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program.
Shelby City Schools was the only Richland County school district awarded funds when the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce announced the program’s second round of recipients last fall.
Browning said the project is scheduled to begin in late May and conclude before school starts next year.
“We’re preparing it (library) now to make that (project) as quick and easy as we can,” he said. “(Summer) is going to be busy, which is good.”
Books from the library are being reallocated to different classrooms across the high school, the superintendent said. Students also had an opportunity to claim books they wanted to keep. The district plans to donate any books remaining to places that could use them.
STEM room to provide hands-on training equipment
The STEM room will be filled with several pieces of equipment from Amatrol, Browning said.
According to its website, Amatrol’s learning solutions include “interactive multimedia as well as print-based student learning materials, virtual trainers, teacher’s guides, industrial quality hands-on training equipment and instructor training.”
“It’s basic manufacturing-type equipment that our students are going to be able to train on and get certifications to be able to go out into the workforce,” the superintendent said.
Browning previously said the district also plans to look into Smart Automation Certification Alliance Industry 4.0 credentialing for its high school students.
SACA is a non-profit organization whose mission is “to develop and deploy modular Industry 4.0 certifications for a wide range of industries.”
“That’s (SACA) going to help teach technical skills in troubleshooting, programming and maintaining and integrating different systems,” the superintendent said in September.
“This will help get those industry-recognized certifications for our students upon graduation.”
ArcelorMittal donating piece of equipment
In addition to equipment from Amatrol, Browning said ArcelorMittal, a Shelby tube manufacturer, is donating a piece of equipment to the future STEM room.
“That (piece of equipment) is going to really help train our students for their specific jobs and that’s going to be a great partnership,” he said.
Board President Scott Rose echoed similar sentiments regarding the partnership with ArcelorMittal.
“I think that’s a huge win for everybody involved, especially for our students, too,” Rose said.