Middlefield Village Mayor Ben Garlich told a room full of businesspeople and public officials Oct. 9 he is in favor of Cardinal Schools consolidating with the Berkshire Schools as soon as possible.
“I met with both superintendents,” he told the Middlefield Chamber of Commerce during his state of the village luncheon at Mary Yoder’s restaurant. “We owe it to our kids.”
Berkshire is in the process of designing an all-grade school on the Kent State University – Geauga campus in Burton Township. The state will fund 55 percent of the school’s construction, a deal that will attend the cost of expansion of the building, if needed.
The movement to consolidate four local districts several years ago failed, but this is the last opportunity Cardinal has to participate in the design of the new school, he said.
Cardinal Schools may lose many students once the new Berkshire school is in operation, he said.
“The (Berkshire) school will open in three years. With open enrollment, we will be picked apart,” he said, predicting many Cardinal students will enroll in the Berkshire school, in which case Cardinal will have to reimburse Berkshire for those students.
“We have an opportunity to be part of a premier school system. I’m going to do everything I can to make it happen,” Garlich said.
Garlich said there is a long list of reasons why the consolidation would be good for the village, including making it more attractive to new businesses and residents.
The new school will focus on STEAM – science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics – and be designed to accommodate cooperative team learning.
Special areas in the school will provide medical office training and diesel mechanic training so high school graduates will be ready to enter the workforce – workers Middlefield businesses and industry need, he said.
College-bound junior and seniors will be able to take college classes earning credits toward a four-year degree at KSU-Geauga.
“I think we’d have a system that would bring more people here,” Garlich said. “Schools draw people. Having a vibrant community without a vibrant school is impossible. There is no reason not to do it.”
Garlich said it would have to be a decision made by the Cardinal Schools Board of Education if they want to be involved in the planning of the new school. For that to happen, they need to hear from the community in favor of consolidation.
Joe Sweet, Middlefield businessman and part owner of the Woodsong housing development, said he is in favor of the consolidation.
“We owe it to our children to have a school where they can excel,” he said during the lunch.
