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Lakota Local superintendent outlines space, accessibility and maintenance challenges at Hopewell Junior
Summary
Superintendent Ashley Whiteley and staff described aging facilities at Hopewell Junior — built in 1973 — citing overcrowded seventh-grade enrollment (about 335 students), non-ADA-compliant original bleachers, roof leaks, inconsistent HVAC/plumbing and cramped student bathrooms.
Ashley Whiteley, superintendent of Lakota Local Schools, led a walkthrough of Hopewell Junior and described several facility problems that school leaders say are affecting instruction and student access. "This building has consistently high student achievement data, but you're gonna see that this building has some complexities," Whiteley said during the tour.
Mr. Crabb, who described the space for the superintendent, said the school is contending with an unusually large seventh-grade class this year. "This year, our seventh grade class has about 335 kids in it, which is the biggest seventh grade class we've had at Hopewell in a long, long time," he said, adding that the school is "utilizing every single room that we have in the building for class," which creates logistical challenges for scheduling.
Staff described structural and accessibility constraints tied to the building's age. Mr. Crabb pointed to original wooden bleachers and said they predate 1992 accessibility standards and are therefore "not ADA compliant, but they've been grandfathered in." He said making the bleachers fully ADA accessible would reduce seating, and "because of our large number of kids in our class sizes... we can't fit every student if we were to lose seats in the bleachers."
Maintenance issues surfaced during the walkthrough. Mr. Crabb said the connection between old and newer roof systems has led to leaks and that heavy rain requires staff to clear roof drainage to limit water intrusion. He pointed to replaced flooring where water had reached the trim and said some floor sections look newer because they have been replaced after past leaks.
School staff also described aging mechanical systems and cramped restroom facilities. "The HVAC, like the lockers, the plumbing and the units that are in there are original to the building and have needed repaired over time, but they're being repaired with retrofit pieces," Mr. Crabb said, noting that fixtures operate differently across rooms. He added that the building's four general student bathrooms (two male, two female) become "very cramped" with the current enrollment.
Whiteley closed the walkthrough by thanking staff and restating that the building's age and configuration create challenges for both instruction and curriculum delivery. The visit documented facility needs but did not include any formal proposals or votes recorded in the walkthrough.
