Thursday, October 28, 1999
Jewish school in new place
BY ALLEN HOWARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
GOLF MANOR — On Tuesday, 38 students at the Regional Institute for Torah and Secular Studies (RITSS) sat in the old Valley theater building for their classes in Roselawn.
On Wednesday, they moved to their new school — a former grocery store — and didn't miss a class.
As workers and staff were busy moving in boxes, desks, computers and chairs, teachers gathered with students in classrooms for lessons in chemistry, physics, pre-calculus, math, science, English, history and Judaic subjects.
“We planned it so we would not interrupt the classes with the moving,” said Rabbi Nechemiah Kibel, dean of the school.
The new school building at 2209 Losantiville Road is an all-girls school offering a high school curriculum plus studies in Judaic subjects, said Rabbi Kibel.
As students moved among boxes and clutter, they talked about being in the new facility.
“I like it here. It really isn't that big of a difference,” said Malki Landau, 15, of Irvine, Calif.
Her sentiments were echoed by Leila Mehlman, 17, of Amberley Village.
“The move from the old school was done smoothly. We didn't miss any classes,” Leila said.
Rabbi Kibel said 16 of the 38 students come from outside Cincinnati. They live in a dormitory, owned by the school, a block away.
The most jovial among the students Wednesday was Elie Appleson, 16, who sat in a pre-calculus class taught by Scott Freeman.
“I am totally enthused,” she said. “This is more of a classroom atmosphere.”
Teachers, alike, didn't miss a beat. “Actually I could teach in a subway,” said Rob Allard, a history and English teacher. “There was a little interruption, but I think the new facility and the new surroundings helped to make things work out fine.”
Douglas Ford, a science and math teacher, said the new facility was more school-like.“We have bigger and more individualized classrooms,” he said.
The 20,000-square-foot building, constructed in the 1940s, underwent a major transformation, said Brad Fread, a vice president of CFC Acoustic Systems Inc. of Milford, which did the work.
“We tore out grocery counters and freezers to install classrooms, closets and lab equipment. It is all new,” Mr. Fread said.
The old brick outside was retained, adding a beige colorhighlighted by a maroon awning.
Rabbi Kibel said the land acquisition, the building and an adjacent parking lot cost about $1.5 million.
The funding came mostly from private donors and bingo game fund raisers.
“We received about $8,000 from the state's auxiliary funds,” said Marv Metz, guidance counselor.
He said the school was not able to complete the upstairs section of the building, which will be converted into an auditorium, another computer room and offices.
The first level is complete with six classrooms, offices, a lab, computer rooms, kitchen and dining area.
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