Buildings? Schools?

One of the first questions asked by potential new residents to a community concerns the schools. Where are they? How are they rated? How do students perform? What is the graduation rate? How many students go on to higher education? All valid. And all of interest to new residents.
Not surprisingly, these same questions are asked by new businesses. They know that any new employees they need from outside the area will be asking these questions and want good answers. Or they will not come here to assist in the business.
Second perhaps only to churches, schools are the community’s flagships and represent its values and principles. It behooves us to rate high in both categories.
Though the State of Ohio has been successful with the tobacco settlement money in building new schools around the state, it still remains up to the local community to provide the local share of any new construction project.
One of the measures the state uses to determine whether it will assist in building a new school or renovating and upgrading an existing school is the sixty-six percent rule. That is, if the cost to repair exceeds 66% of the cost to build new, the state will insist we build new or they will not participate in funding.
Many will remember that our buildings were evaluated some years ago as part of the state program to secure our place in the line of funding. At that time our community’s resources were examined and it was determined the state would pay 39% of the cost of any building project we would undertake. The other 61% would be up to us.
This past year we have had the buildings re-evaluated to address any interim changes. The state is locked in for their 39% share and it remains for us to commit to the future we envision as a community.
The results of the building evaluation are as follows. Harmar and Phillips would not qualify for any state funding assistance as they are located in the flood plane. The state will not invest any money in the flood plane.
The middle school, even though it underwent significant renovations in the early 90s, still needs sufficient new renovations and upgrades that the cost would exceed the 66% rule. Hence, the state will not participate in that funding.
Putnam School does not qualify under the 66% rule. Neither does Washington. The current high school is the only building that qualifies for upgrades and funding, but just barely.
Using state rules about classroom sizes, class sizes, square feet of space per our student population and other dictates, the proposal recommended is to construct a new K-4 grade school on the Colegate side of the current high school in the parking lot areas.
The current high school building would be renovated and upgraded to modern standards and become our 5th to 8th grade middle school. A new high school facility would be constructed in a place yet to be determined. There are two locations currently under consideration.
The construction phases would be sequenced to provide a minimum disruption to classes and at the same time expedite having our students in new buildings with updated technology and safety features as soon as possible.
More specifics should be available soon. In the meantime, if you have the opportunity to visit neighboring schools which have been newly constructed, do so. Have a look at what is happening in these new facilities that our students may soon enjoy. We hope to arrange for some of those visits. It’s worth the trip to see the differences.