Crews are working to build the foundation for a new, 176,766-square-foot Dover high school building. The building is being constructed on district-owned property off of Tuscarawas Avenue, adjacent to the district's existing high school. (Photo by Stacey Carmany)

Dover, Ohio - Dover school district officials say local nearly half of the contract dollars awarded for the construction of a new high school will be going to local contractors.  

Construction crews have been working daily throughout the summer to prepare the site for the district’s new, 176,766-square-foot high school building, which is being constructed on district-owned property adjacent to the existing high school. 

District Superintendent Carla Birney says crews are currently working to build the foundation for the new building and establish underground utilities in preparation for the building phase of the project, which will rely heavily on the work of local contractors.

“The footer has been poured for the auditorium and the music wing, and they’re starting to lay the block for the walls of those two areas. Now they’ve moved on to digging and pouring the footers for the academic wing,” the superintendent says.

The $46 million project is being overseen by Hammond Construction of Canton and includes a total $18 million in local contracts.

Local contractors for the project include Dover Tank and Plate Co., Hicks Roofing, Miceli Glass, Peterman Plumbing & Heating, Metal Masters and Wood Electric. 

More than $2 million in materials have also been purchased locally through Dover Cabinet, Wayne Door, Marsh Industries, Marlite, Smith Concrete, Stocker Sand and Gravel, Kimble Companies, and Belden Brick. 

The project is being funded in part with a $20 million grant awarded by the Ohio School Facilities Commission, with the remainder of the funding secured through and a 4.4-mill bond issue approved by voters last November.  

Dover Board of Education President Steve Mastin says local collaboration has been a goal of the project since the beginning.

“Following the passage of the bond issue, we provided local investors the opportunity to buy bonds. The financial experts who facilitated this sale noted that they could not recall having the extent of local participation witnessed with the sale of Dover’s bonds,” he says. “From the sale of the bonds to working with local contractors, this project speaks to the involvement and care our community provides for our schools.” 

Birney says construction is expected to be completed by the end of next year. 

Stacey Carmany, Tusco TV