Groundbreaking ceremony October 24, 2012 for new Lorain High School

LORAIN, Ohio - The future of Lorain’s new high school began unfolding Wednesday afternoon, with a traditional groundbreaking ceremony at the old Admiral King High School.

Demolition on the old school will begin later this fall. Students are currently attending high school at the renovated Southview High School.

The new high school will be home to more than 2,000 students when it’s finished in four years. Lorain hasn’t had a new high school since 1969.

The $73 million investment, paid through a bond issue passed several years ago, will give the Titans a campus-like atmosphere, with a three floor academic wing and $3 million, 800 seat auditorium, plus two gyms.

The new high school will also have a restaurant operated by students in the culinary arts program.

In the meantime, Lorain voters will have to decide if they’ll approve a 4.8 mill operating levy on the Nov. 6 ballot for the first time in 20 years. Passing the levy would mean Lorain could offer full day kindergarten and restore bussing. Levy failure would mean more cuts.

Lorain City Schools recently fell into Academic Emergency on the state report card. Superintendent Tom Tucker, who has only been on the job three months, recently told NewsChannel5 the drop was hard to swallow.

"It’s going to take work, a lot of work. Our teachers are teaching, but we have to find ways to fix the gaps."