Ashtabula schools waiting on demolition permit for LHS academic wing

Christopher Gillett, Star Beacon, Ashtabula, OhioStar Beacon

ASHTABULA — Ashtabula Area City Schools officials are hoping to start the demolition of the academic wing of Lakeside High School soon.

During a Wednesday board meeting, District Treasurer Mark Astorino said the administration is waiting on the demolition permit and asbestos clearance to come back before moving forward.

"Once we get the first shovel in the ground for demolition [of Lakeside] we are going to call that phase one of the rebuilding project," he said.

Lakeside's roof collapsed during the 2024 Thanksgiving weekend snowstorm.

Since then, high school students have been relocated to other district buildings.

The board approved a $409,000 bid from ProQuality Demolition at a December meeting to demolish the academic wing of Lakeside.

The board voted to renew its insurance plans with RSUI Group and under the Ohio School Plan through Indian Harbor and Travelers.

Astorino said RSUI is insuring the high school.

Board member Donald Rapose asked if the district is still paying premiums to Liberty Mutual. Astorino said they dumped the district Jan. 22, 2025.

The district announced a lawsuit against Liberty Mutual in early November 2025 over claims related to damage from the roof collapse.

Astorinio provided a written report on the legislative effects of recent property tax reforms for AACS.

The report is available through the district's website, he said.

AACS may form a finance committee to look more at how the legislation may affect the district, Astorino said.

The district is in a complicated position with property tax reform because of the roof collapse and the relocation of students, he said.

"We can't shed Huron [Primary School] like we intended to," he said. "That'll have to sit."

Sophomores, juniors and seniors were moved to the former Huron Primary Building after the LHS roof collapse.

The district is on a funding guarantee from the state, Astorino said.

"When school district's enrollment fluctuates with a significant reduction, they put schools on the guarantee," he said.

Astorino said that is good, because losing students will not harm the district financially, but it is also bad, because new students will not help the district financially.

Board member Jessica Anderson said she was interested in establishing a framework for how board committees function.

She said she had drafted the framework already.

Board President Scott Yopp said the framework should be shared with other board members, so they could do vote on it at the next board meeting.

The board voted to send a 1.25-mill renewal levy to fund district textbooks, educational technology and instruction equipment to the Ashtabula County Board of Elections.

The levy was going to be in the November 2025 ballot, but it was removed to not compete with the bond issue the district sought to fund the reconstruction of Lakeside High School.

The board approved personal service agreements with Scott Anservitz and Stephan Evanson.

District Superintendent Lisa Newsome said they are needed to help with the district administration's work.