Westlake High Demolition Starting July 19

With the new Westlake High School on track to open on track for the first day of school, Turner Construction is readying to demolish the current high school.

“We’ll start taking it down on July 19,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dan Keenan said last week. “It will take about 10-20 days to take it down.”

Those feeling nostalgic about the high school had an opportunity to bid on items at a recent auction.

That auction saw the sale of desks, work benches, audiovisual, electronics and kitchen equipment. The district raised approximately $35,000 in the effort that will be put in the school’s capital improvement fund.

Keenan said he understands the melancholy that people might experience seeing the school demolished.

“It was nice to have an auction, to make money, and it was nice for people to get some memorabilia,” Keenan said. “There’s a lot of pride of what went on in that building, some great things went on at that school.”

Dave Puffer, supervisor for construction projects for Westlake City Schools,

said the building is close to bare, but plenty of what is left will be reused.

“We’re reusing a lot of what was in there in the new building,” Puffer said. “We’re reusing some stuff around the district, such as lockers to Dover Intermediate.”

Some of the gym flooring will move over to the new high school.

The archway from the front door of the old red brick building on the high school premises will be used at the high school as parts of a façade and the historical society wanted the old door.

Puffer said Westlake City Schools business director Dave Kocevar auctioned off a lot of items from bleachers to memorabilia.

“You name it, I thing he sold it,” Puffer said.

Other items will be given to other school districts, including Vermilion and North Olmsted, allowing them to take unneeded items, such as desks.

“We’ll allow them to take it instead of them being tossed,” Puffer said.

Presently, asbestos is being removed before the demolition. Puffer said he expects removal to be completed by July 12.

“Asbestos can stay in place unless it’s disturbed,” he said. “Recently, the Ohio EPA changed regulation on VCT tile, so that is being abated. It’s taking a little longer than anticipated. We’re expected to be done by July 12. Then the demolition crew will come in.”

Puffer said this spring saw quite a number of class reunions come through.

The dedication for the new high school is Sept. 21.