At its board meeting May 28, the Oberlin School Board voted to construct a new middle school to replace the more than 100-year-old Langston Middle School by August 2027. According to District Director of Communications Melissa Linebrink, the decision came in response to the increasing number of repairs at Langston Middle School and because the current building is far larger than necessary for the current enrollment. 

The district was originally going to ask voters for a new tax levy in the form of a  37-year bond issue of $4.21 million for construction, but the district treasurer felt that the project could be adequately funded through the district’s general fund, which will increase through taxes taken from the NEXUS pipeline and increasing property values. This means no tax levy will be required.

The NEXUS Pipeline is a 256-mile natural gas pipeline extension that was built through the City of Oberlin to transport gas to some Midwestern states and Canada. The project proved to be controversial and was opposed by many groups in the city.

According to District Treasurer Robert Rinehart, the expected cost of the building is $30 million. Currently, $12 million is in the general fund, $3 million is in the building fund, and $3.5 million is in the construction fund. Increasing property values and taxes from the NEXUS pipeline will net the district an additional $1.7 million to cover the project’s cost.

The new middle school building will be located to the east of Oberlin High School, starting at the baseball field’s fence. It will have 12 classrooms, a cafeteria, a kitchen, a media center, and administrative offices.

“The new [grades] six to eight facility will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, advanced technology, and innovative learning spaces tailored to meet the unique needs of middle school students,” Rinehart wrote in an email to the Review. “Our goal is to create an environment that fosters academic excellence, creativity, and social development.”

The district plans to hold community sessions to increase involvement in the project.

“This year will be dedicated to planning and conducting these sessions for both staff and community members,” District Superintendent David Hall wrote in an email to the Review.