Coshocton City Schools seeking $12.4 million grant. Here's how the money would be spent

Leonard L. Hayhurst, Coshocton Tribune
·2 min read

COSHOCTON − Coshocton City Schools is seeking a $12.4 million grant to renovate much of Coshocton High School and increase services for the general public.

The district is seeking an Appalachian Community Innovation Centers Grant for renovations to classrooms and offices, just under 30,000 square-feet. This is the same grant River View is seeking, along with two others, for a similar increase of services at its high school building. They should hear back on the grants by May.

Mark Kowalski
Mark Kowalski

Superintendent Mark Kowalski said this combines with the district's plan to seek a bond issue on the May 2025 primary ballot to construct a new high school building. The southwest wing of the current high school where seventh and eighth grades are housed now would be demolished and a new seventh to twelfth grade building would extend from there.

The district issued a survey last year seeking public input on a facilities management plan. From that, it was determined people didn't want to lose the swimming pool and large gymnasium and auditorium that would not be covered in a new high school by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. The OFCC would cover 66% of the cost for a new building with the district paying the remainder. However, these elements could be kept and the space around it repurposed.

"In talking with some of our partners, we're really looking at down the road what this looks like for Coshocton City Schools as we determine if we're going to go out and replace the high school," Kowalski said. "We will still need to operate parts of the current high school."

Renovation plans

This would include providing a home for the Coshocton Opportunity School and Coshocton Alternative School, increasing preschool classes, creating a job center with computer lab through Ohio Means Jobs and growing a health clinic by Muskingum Valley Health Centers to include mental health services.

MVHC opened a clinic room at the high school in 2022. The opportunity school is in the high school now and the alternative school is at the old armory building on Otsego Avenue. The job center and health center would be available to the public in general along with students and staff.

SHP of Columbus had done the design work. If the grant is approved, work will probably be done over the next few summers with the grant project mandated to be finished by December 2026. Kowalski said plans could be scaled back if less money is awarded.

"My hope is that campus really turns into a place where our community lives, works and plays. I want services even on the weekends there," Kowalski said. "Whether we're fortunate enough at the ballot box in the next year or so, these renovations are still going to happen to provide space for our community partners."

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Coshocton City Schools seeking $12.4 million grant for renovations