Oxford, Ohio, School District To Build New Marshall School By 2021

BY CHARLES BLADES and CHASE ENGEL
Miami University journalism students

The oldest elementary school in the Talawanda School District may soon become the newest.

The Talawanda School Board recently voted unanimously to tear down Marshall Elementary and replace
it with a school of the same name.

For Talawanda School District treasurer Mike Davis, this is a weight off of the district’s back.

“We don’t have to worry about the roof, we don’t have to worry about the sewer, we don’t
have to worry about air conditioning, with all these things being delivered brand new,”
Davis said.

A staple in the community since 1968, Marshall looks to modernize its infrastructure. The new
Marshall Elementary will be similar to the Kramer Elementary, renovated in 2016.

Principal Chad Hinton began at Marshall 14 years ago, and is excited for the much-needed
renovations to come.

“While it’s sad when a building goes down, I think the opportunities for things we can do in the
future I think far outweigh that,” says Hinton.

From bathrooms flooding and ceilings leaking, to loud droning fans being used to cool down
kids, the school has to be careful not to blow a fuse.

“Sometimes you have you have to make choices,” says Hinton. “Are you going to run the
computers, or are going to run the fans and ACs?”

Additions have been made to the building, with the last renovation taking place in 2004 to
complete a new gym. But the school is still the same shell of the one that was built in 1968.

And while this may seem like some sort of levy will need to pass, Oxford taxpayers need not
fear. The new $14 million Marshall is expected to be funded through both the Talawanda
District’s existing budget and a $3 million contribution from the Ohio Facilities
Construction Commission.

Renovations at Talawanda High School and the construction of both Bogan, and Kramer
Elementary were built using these same funds.

Although the project won’t be complete until 2021, Marshall students have some new
architectural plans, like unlimited recess. First-grader Spencer Lykyns wants a 24-hour waterslide
installed.

Spencer and other Oxford residents can visit the next Talawanda School Board meeting on
Nov. 20 for more information.

Top photo: This report comes from Miami University's Oxford Weekly News team. -- Contributed photo