The Ohio School Facilities Commission was created in 1997 to address the growing problem of the condition of Ohio schools. When the commission started its evaluations for each school district, it made a decision that if a building would cost 2/3 the price of a new building of equal size, the building would be razed to build new. The state would even assist in the abatement and demolition process. Although changes have been made in the "2/3 rule" 14 historic schools in Ashland County have been destroyed with numerous others endangered. Consider Ashland City Schools as they consolidate and make grade level buildings rather than neighborhood schools. What will happen to these historic neighborhood schools?
Osborn school was built in the early 19o0s and named after Belle Osborn. Belle Osborn taught school for years in Ashland and was the daughter of Judge Osborn. Their home once stood on Center Street where Trinity Lutheran parking lot is today. Belle Osborn upon her death donated money for the city to purchase land to make a city park....Brookeside.
Will Osborn School suffer the fate of the Osborn House? If a school district abandons a building how can it be rehabilitated for another use? Who will make the investment in a large building like a school? For these reasons I have placed Ashland County Public Schools as #7 on my list of the top 10 endangered historic properties in Ashland County.
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