Buckeye receives feedback from students on facilities

YORK TWP. — Buckeye Schools received feedback from its high school students regarding the design aspects they would like to see in the new Buckeye High School. Buckeye has a "self-funded" plan to build a new high school and turn the existing high school into a middle school. Superintendent Jeff Stanton gave an update on facilities during the board of education meeting Tuesday. In March, 163 Buckeye High School students answered a survey about facilities, Stanton said. Students consistently expressed how they value features like natural light, openness, flexibility, improved seating and windows, with their favorite spaces being common areas. "This was disappointing to hear. Our students told us their least favorite spaces in the school were the classrooms," he said. "They didn't say teachers were their least favorite. They said the classrooms because they're small, the tech is difficult and there are no windows." The survey also asked students for their opinions on lockers. Stanton said a large number of students said lockers are needed, but also stated that there is nothing in their lockers, and they rarely use them. "Lockers are polarizing," he said. "When I was in school, and I would say probably most of us when were in school, what a locker was then versus what it is now is very different." The district is wrapping up a community survey about visual preferences. Stanton said, as of Tuesday night, the district had received between 450 and 475 responses from the community, and he is looking forward to seeing the feedback. In the future, input will also be gathered from sixth, seventh and eighth grade students and staff, since a large part of the project includes moving those students into the current high school, he said. The project is still in the schematic design phase, and work continues to focus on the internal high school building, Stanton said. Traffic flow has also been a topic of discussion. "Any facility plan should drastically improve traffic flow," he said. "We're working on that, and that's not easy." For more information on facilities at Buckeye Local Schools, visit tinyurl.com/5vv64tyr. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.