Tag: Charles City Middle School

Charles City

5 things to know about the sale and redevelopment of the old Charles City Middle School

Chris Baldus

Here are 5 things to know about the sale and redevelopment plans for the old middle school at 500 N. Grand. 1. Shawn and Meg Foutch, doing business as Foutch Properties, plan to turn the 1930’s portion of the school into apartments through a minimum investment of $4 million. 2. The Charles City School Board agreed on Monday to sell the historic building to Foutch Properties for $1. 3. Barring unavoidable delays, construction of at least 35 market-rate apartments will be completed no later than June 30, 2023, according to the development agreement. 4. The Charles City Council is considering … Continue reading 5 things to know about the sale and redevelopment of the old Charles City Middle School

Charles City Schools

Charles City School Board to consider old middle school options on Monday, calls for public comment

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — With a purchase offer on the table as well as a pitch to work with the city and a “place maker” to create something unique that would draw people to the community, the Charles City School Board has some decisions to make about the former Middle School building.  A slate of options are on the board’s agenda for The board meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the 7th grade learning area on the new middle school. Zach Mannheimer of McClure Engineering Company met with the Charles City Council and then the School Board on May 30 about potential … Continue reading Charles City School Board to consider old middle school options on Monday, calls for public comment

Charles City Schools

Another first: In a new ceremony, Charles City 8th graders cross over to high school

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — On their final day as eighth graders, the Charles City High School Class of 2021 marched out the front door of the new middle school singing “Na na na na, na na na na, good bye!” They paraded Friday along Comet Drive — flanked by construction of the school district’s new bus barn to their left, and to their right churned dirt pushed behind the concrete curb during the drive’s construction. Like the class, the campus remains a work in progress with high expectations. The procession was led through the high school parking lot by students carrying … Continue reading Another first: In a new ceremony, Charles City 8th graders cross over to high school

Charles City, Charles City Schools

‘Placemaker’ could be answer to former Charles City Middle School problem

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — The clamor of sneakers on polished terrazzo floors, lockers slapping shut, and fledgling teenagers chattering is gone. Hollow echoes mostly fill the former home of the Charles City Middle School. It’s been nearly a full school year since CCMS moved to its new campus. Despite all the meetings and professional study of community facilities, needs and wants, the future of the 1931 art deco building at 500 N. Grand Ave remains uncertain. Charles City Administrator Steve Diers suggests that a professional “placemaker” might be the missing link to getting city and school district leaders to finally back … Continue reading ‘Placemaker’ could be answer to former Charles City Middle School problem

Charles City Schools

Charles City students to present Riverside Cemetery projects Friday 

Chris Baldus

Charles City eighth graders film some video of Riverside Cemetery using a drone. — Photo courtesy of Ryan Rahmiller CHARLES CITY — Riverside Cemetery will be a lively place Friday. Eighth graders are making sure of that. Since October, these Charles City Middle School students have been working on meeting many needs at the cemetery through their project dubbed “Tomb It May Concern.”  “The students have been working so hard on their chosen projects and we have had many successes and acknowledgments from the community,” says an email to parents from the eighth-grade teaching team of Ryan and Amanda Rahmiller, … Continue reading Charles City students to present Riverside Cemetery projects Friday 

Charles City

City Council supports application to put former middle school building on National Register, asks for 2 edits

Chris Baldus

UPDATE CHARLES CITY (Thursday, May 11, 2017) — Municipal leaders are prepared to back the effort to get a federal designation for the former Charles City Middle School building that could help in adapting it for a new use. Wednesday night, the Charles City Council was supportive of the application by developer Charley Thomson to have the 1931 building added to the National Register of Historic Places. Councilmen asked for two changes, however. The first is noting the building is publicly not privately owned. Thomson has plans to purchase the Art Deco building at 500 N. Grand from the district … Continue reading City Council supports application to put former middle school building on National Register, asks for 2 edits

Arts, Charles City Schools

CC Jazz groups close out their year in Central Park

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — Jazz on the River became Jazz in Central Park this year as the amphitheater was damaged by floodwaters last year. The Charles City High School Jazz Ensemble and a group composed of middle and high school musicians performed Saturday, May 6, at the final jazz concert of the year. The playlist was extended by a few songs that the Jazz Ensemble prepared for the high school’s annual Ice Cream Social that was cancelled. The days performance was capped with the social’s traditional finale, “In the Mood.” Continue reading CC Jazz groups close out their year in Central Park

Charles City, Schools

UPDATE: CCMS parking lot project advances

Chris Baldus

UPDATE: The Charles City School Board approved an agreement with Short Elliot Hendrickson, Inc. for professional services in the Charles City Middle School new parking lot project. The contract is capped at $30,600 The parking lot plan so far is to add 50 more parking spaces to the west of the middle school. The estimated cost is $160,374. It’s construction would begin in mid-May.   The board approved the west parking lot project as part of the summer of 2017 capital projects to be paid from sales tax and physical plant and equipment levy funds, according to district administration. Superintendent … Continue reading UPDATE: CCMS parking lot project advances