Superintendent Lance Hostetler credited school board member Wendy Boyle as being the real spark that revived the dream back in 2018. While at an Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference, he said Boyle encountered a display that would let them envision a 3D walk-through of a new school building. She urged Hostetler to check it out. There is where they not only decided to revisit the dream but also found the architect and construction firms that would finally bring their dream school to fruition.

Step-by-step, the dream kept taking shape.

Board member Ruth Ann Rinto has a unique perspective on the new building, having served as an administrator there for 22 years. It was fitting that she would be included to make remarks on Saturday.

As a former longtime principal and superintendent, she talked about how a new school had been a longtime vision of board members that served in 2020. However, it was quickly dismissed as unattainable as no one wanted to figure out to get the local match without additional taxes.

The learning stairs leading into the front lobby, which doubles as a dining area, was packed during Saturday’s ribbon-cutting for the United Local new school building. (Photos by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

That dilemma eventually solved thanks to district treasurer Melissa Baker.

Baker took a side road while driving, which led her past the Kensington processing plant and her realization that United Local may qualify for additional tax from that, which potentially could cover that 39 percent match.

Combined with the state’s announcement that United Local was eligible for state funds from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission to construct a single PK-12 building to house all of the district’s students, United Local was on the way to a new school.

The new additions to the campus includes a main building offering bright, daylit spaces, hands-on learning labs, reduced maintenance and operating costs, enhanced curricular and extracurricular spaces as well as the newest in security features.

The nearly $50 million project was funded through $28,970,346 in state funding approved by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. The other $20,131,935 came from revenue generated by the Nexus gas pipeline and compression station in the district. Construction officially began in May 2023.

From left, United Local school board members Denise Rhodes, Wendy Doyle and Ruth Ann Rinto have their hands over their hearts as student Kara Moore sings the National Anthem during Saturday’s dedication of United Local’s new school building.

As school board president Denise Rhodes explained, “We first saw the fences go up and dirt begin to move, shaping blueprints into a reality. We watched the foundation go in, steel beams rise, walls take shape and fall down. Little-by-little, our vision came to life.”

The new building is a three-story building for PreK through 12th grade students and is 16,000 square feet.

Rhodes thanked the community, which packed the front lobby/dining area and mezzanine of the new building for Saturday’s dedication.

“This building stands as a promise to our students. It is a symbol of our commitment to providing them with the best possible education — not just in academics, but in life skills, creativity, leadership and character. The comment I love the most this week was that (these) rooms and spaces bring so much light (into) the classroom, students surely will be engaged. I truly believe that will happen for students and staff.”

After breaking ground in 2023, the project largely was on schedule and within the district’s predicted budget until the majority of work recently has been completed. During the last month, the district has demolished the old structure and now renovations to the salvaged portion of the building will take place, officials shared.

Sara Smith, of Guilford Lake, signs the guest book of United Local School District’s ribbon- cutting ceremony on behalf of her family, who largely are either alumni or current students in the United Local School District.

In the process of prioritizing what should go in the new building and purging what couldn’t, some historic treasures like yearbooks and trophies were bestowed to the Hanover Township Historical Society, which had representatives in attendance.

The board president talked about how this new, more modern building will mean great growth for their students, preparing them for unimaginable careers.

“Every space — from the media center to the open cafeteria, grade level pods and production labs — were designed to inspire students to do their best work and to believe that their future has no limits,” Rhodes added.

United Local students Sidney Billy from the graduating class and kindergartener Lincoln Kennedy were selected to assist board and staff members with the ribbon-cutting honors.

Also as part of the event program, Hostetler provided the welcome; the United Local High School cheerleaders performed the district’s fight song; Kyle Miller and Joe Swantek from the district’s design and construction teams offered remarks on the project; and Doyle gave the invocation and prayer.

From left, Hanover Township Historical Society members Janet Reeder and JoAnn Lucas attend Saturday’s dedication of the new United Local school building. Many artifacts, including trophies and yearbooks, were bestoed to the organization.

The United Local High School cheerleaders perform to the district’s fight song to start the dedication’s festivities after the district’s superintendent welcomed the crowd. The lead designer of this project explained the inspiration behind the giant “U” on the wall that people encounter about entering the building is a way of honoring the past. United Local School District was the product of joining 11 one-room schoolhouses together in 1944 to form the district, and there are 11 lines represented in the “U.”

The post-demolition site of the old United Local school building as it appeared to attendees of Saturday’s dedication of the new United Local School District. In addition to half-hour dedicated to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, visitors could take self-guided tours of the three-story, 16,000-square-foot structure. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

At left, Kennedy holds 5-year-old Lincoln Kennedy as he sits next to his wife and Zach’s mom Ashley Kennedy during Saturday’s United Local school ribbon-cutting. Lincoln, who is starting kindergarten this year at United, was selected by the board to help and cut the ribbon at the dedication due to him having the closest birthday to the event. Ashley Kennedy teaches elementary school for the district, which starts classes after Labor Day.