Mark Linton, a sales rep for Smart Solutions, demonstrates the Smart Boards in Messiah Lutheran’s new middle school building during an open house Sunday. (West Life photo by Kevin Kelley)

Messiah Lutheran dedicates middle school building
By Kevin Kelley
Fairview Park
Published Feb. 13, 2008

Sixth, seventh and eighth-graders at Messiah Lutheran School this week have a new environment to learn in, one which will also give them a more distinct identity as middle school students, school officials said.

Blustery winds prevented members of the Messiah Lutheran Church congregation from having the dedication prayer and ribbon cutting outside the school’s newly renovated middle school building Sunday afternoon. Instead, the ceremonies were held following a luncheon in the existing gymnasium.

The building, formerly a dentist’s office, was acquired by the church in December 2006. During the past five months, the building was renovated to house Messiah Lutheran’s sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes as well as an art and science lab. However, all of the school’s students, who number 215 in kindergarten through grade eight, will use the building during parts of each day.

The school had planned to begin using the new classrooms Jan. 31. However, issues regarding the inspection of the elevator and fire alarm system caused a temporary delay in the issuance of the building’s certificate of occupancy, said Nathan Hessler, the chair of the church’s administration and finance committee.

Messiah Lutheran School Principal Kyle Chuhran told West Life that students will be using the building by the end of this week.

“The building itself is ready,” Chuhran said. “It’s just some of the furnishings that we’re waiting on.”

The Rev. Richard Ramirez leads a prayer of dedication Sunday for in the gymnasium for Messiah Lutheran School's new middle school building. (West Life photo by Kevin Kelley)

The two-story building, which has four classrooms, includes space for science experiments as well as new technology such as Smart Boards, interactive boards that use computers and projectors to display information. These features will allow the school to keep pace with changes in education and prepare students for future challenges, the principal said.

Victoria Kalinowski, who teaches sixth grade and middle school science classes, said she’s looking forward to the new technology and more classroom space.

Both Kalinowski and Chuhran said the middle school students will have a better sense of identity as older students in the new building.

“I’m really looking forward to the kids seeing themselves as true middle schoolers — preparing themselves for adulthood,” Kalinowski told West Life.

Chuhran, who is in his fourth year as principal, told the congregation that the new building is not as important as the education of students that will take place in it.

“In the end, that building is just a tool,” Chuhran said. “A much needed tool, yes. But it is just a tool.”

Though education is changing, the Gospel message taught at the school will not change, Chuhran said.

“So I’m also excited to know that the same Gospel message that has been proclaimed at this place, at this school for over 50 years...will continue to be proclaimed in that new building,” he said.

Bob Kreps, the co-chair of the church’s building committee, said that although Lutherans are often reluctant to show pride, the congregation should be proud of the middle school building.

“This is a happy day,” Kreps said. “We’ve waited a long time for this.”

“Our beautiful new building is the best that our minds, and our hands and our treasure can build,” Kreps said. “It’s also an act of faith and a symbol of hope. It’s a cause for joy and a good thing that will last for generations.”

For the past two weeks, barricades have blocked West 215th Street between Messiah Lutheran School’s existing facilities and the new building during school hours — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. This step, approved by City Council, is a temporary measure to ensure students can safely cross West 215th Street as they change classes throughout the day.

Messiah Lutheran had originally asked the city to vacate a portion of West 215th Street so the school could build a small park-like campus between the buildings.

However, area residents objected to their access to Lorain Road being blocked, and the request was not passed by City Council.

“We know that we don’t have a permanent solution on our street, but we have a safe solution in the interim,” Marty Uhle, the other building committee co-chair, said Sunday.

Hessler and Kreps have said Messiah Lutheran leaders and area neighbors reached a general understanding last month on several points that would comprise a permanent solution on how students can safely walk between buildings. These points include blocking the street during school hours and making West 215th Street one-way northbound in the area between Messiah Lutheran’s buildings.

Both Kreps and Uhle said the church will next turn its attention to making improvements to its existing facilities.

Uhle said the congregation’s long-range plans include installing air conditioning in the remaining classrooms, installing an elevator and removing ramps, and refurbishing the church’s organ.

CORRECTION: In an article in West Life’s Jan. 30 issue, Nathan Hessler, the chair of the church’s administration and finance committee, was incorrectly identified as co-chair of Messiah Lutheran’s building committee. The two building committee co-chairs are Bob Kreps and Marty Uhle.