Demolition of the abandoned former Middle School building, located on Canaris Street in Constantine, came up Monday (February 13th) during a Constantine Public Schools Board of Education session to define goals for the next several years.

Costs to demolish the building were projected to be $200,000 at the meeting. Costs to fix up the building were set at $2 million.

“We understand there are a lot of memories attached to that building. While there’s no shortage of good ideas and good uses, the cost (either way) is a lot,” said Superintendent Chuck Frisbie.

During time for public comment, Joelen Zimont expressed a wish to let the building stand as is.  She said said tearing a historic building down could have a negative impact on how people viewed the school board.

“It’s a good strong building, stronger than the one I’m standing in right now,” Zimont said. “Some day, perhaps not in my lifetime, another purpose will be found for this building. An investor might come along.”

“An older building stands by the Village office, the old Clare Hoffman home,” Zimont added. “It needs repairs, yes, but it is still standing and currently being utilized by the police to investigate the Jodi Parrack murder.”

“The Canaris Street school is just a beautiful building, well built,” she said.

Interior of the Canaris Street School, south end, looking east

School board president John Shuler commented the school board was sympathetic to local history.  The decision to tear the building down had not been officially made yet, and for now it would be left standing, he added.

The building originally housed the entire K-12 grades when it was built in the 1920′s. In later years, it housed the high school, and then the Middle School.  It was closed in 2002, coinciding with the opening of the new high school, when Middle School students at the Canaris Street school were moved to the old high school.

Officials said the solid, admirable exterior appearance of the building is deceiving, because the inside has been gutted, with plumbing and electric disconnected.

At a brainstorming session for school personnel held January 28th, it was noted metal items, including the boiler, have been scrapped and sold as salvage, netting a total of $10,000 so far.

Cost to remove asbestos from the building is estimated at $20,000.

Last May a sale of items and materials in storage for years in the building took place, and several hundred people attended to reminisce and take home a souvenir.

In further business Monday:

• The school board discussed strategies for the next several years, including more technical training for teachers and students.  “Now we train kids only a half a year in technology in the Middle School and that’s not enough,” Superintendent Frisbie said. ”Kids could get ahead or just make up credits. It would help both our advanced and remedial programs.”  Frisbie added students at the high school with no discipline issues who just needed to “catch up” would be helped, and not need to transfer to the alternative education program at Constantine Tech High School.
• School board officials discussed introducing a mentor program for parents, grandparents and other interested citizens as a way to get the public more involved with the school. The board expressed an interest in making the people more aware of what the school spends money on.

Source:  Story and photos contributed by Angie Birdsall.