Committee chooses name for new Berea elementary school

By Joanne Berger DuMound, Sun News

October 22, 2009

BEREA -- The new Berea elementary school doesn’t have any walls yet, but it does have a name.

One that made heads nod at its mention.

Meet Grindstone Elementary School.

The committee charged with suggesting a name did so at a recent board meeting. Members approved it.

The facility is being constructed on Race Street, at the site of the former Fairwood Elementary School. The building, which is part of an overall facilities plan, will be the only elementary school in Berea.

Here is the most current information about the "New" Elementary School which will replace Fairwood:

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Fairwood school bricks will be available, legally, on Saturday

Posted by Joanne Berger DuMound, News Sun -- jdumound@sunnews.com September 04, 2009 10:00AM

Categories: News

This is a computer-generated view of the new 850-student school that will house elementary students living in the city of Berea.

Saturday marks the end of one educational era and the start of a new one.

Berea's Fairwood Elementary School bricks will be available for the last time from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at its Race Street site. Then the new building project begins.

The red bricks have been a popular item -- a bit too well liked in actions that could have led to injury.

The district initially began gathering bricks at the site's fencing for those who wanted one or two. That wasn't sufficient for some, though. They loaded their trunk or pick-up truck.

"In a matter of five minutes, someone would pull up and take all l00 bricks. The contractor would then have to load a Bobcat and bring more out. It was taking away from their work. After four or five times of doing this, we ended that process," said Jeff Grosse, the school district's business services director. "The idea was to give everyone an opportunity of having a brick or two as a keepsake of the school -- not to build their own Fairwood walkway or patio at their home."

Well, that didn't end people's desire to obtain their bounty. They began climbing over the fence or parking their cars in the site while the construction gates were open -- despite the signs warning not to do so -- and grabbing their share.

Saturday's process should be orderly. Grosse said those wishing to take bricks should park on the street and walk to the school where they have the chance to obtain up to five bricks.

"When the bricks run out, that's it," Grosse said. "We will be finished. Everything will be out of there."

And, that's when the new building process begins.

Over the last several months, a design committee, composed of Berea school district staff, parents and residents, have met with Rodwell King, senior project manager with GPD Architects. Their mission -- to develop the design plans for the new elementary school at the Race Street site.

The committee accomplished its goal.

Community members are invited Tuesday and Sept. 10 to see a computerized view of the building's exterior and share their thoughts. The sessions will be from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Tuesday and 7-9 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Cuyahoga County Public Library's Berea branch Community Room, 7 Berea Commons.

Parts of the new building will have two stories -- for various reasons.

"The lot is small. There wasn't a way we could spread out a single-story building and still have the needed parking," Grosse said. "And there is a lot to be said about energy efficiency with two stories.

The educational wing will have those two floors, with an elevator for handicap accessibility.

The school will merit a silver rating in the LEED Certification, which is a recognized standard for measuring building sustainability or the term "green." The rating helps reduce the negative environmental impact on buildings as well as improve the health and well-being of those inside. And it allows the district to take advantage of a growing number of state and local government incentives.

"That is why it's taken so long during this initial phase," Grosse said. "They were separating all the metal, glass, wood, steel, all construction material for recycling purposes."

A portion of the crust foundation also was recycled by using it as backfill on the property.

The recycling also produced lower bids because companies were able to recoup their investment through recycling the material.

Thanks to Jim Jungeberg and Bob Betz for the pictures!