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Groveport Madison to assess aging buildings; consider bond issue
(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - January 28, 2010)
Groveport Madison Local Schools officials hope to create a new master facilities plan (MFP) this year to address the district's aging school buildings.
Depending on the results of the MFP process and input garnered from planned community public forums, the district may possibly seek to place a bond issue on this November's ballot that could fund: the renovation of buildings, the construction of new buildings, or both.
Why consider an MFP & bond issue?
"Despite the fluctuations that occur year to year, the district is well above the design capacity of our buildings," said Groveport Madison Business Manager Larry Ricchi in a Jan. 27 interview. "The addition of modular classrooms does nothing for the limited space in hallways, restrooms, lunch rooms, and other shared spaces such as gymnasiums."
Ricchi said this view is not just a product of the Ohio School Facilities Commission's (OSFC) 2008 assessment of the district, but is also the assessment of the State Auditor's Facilities Performance Audit, which takes "an objective, clinical, and unemotional approach to what is necessary for public schools."
Ricchi said if a bond issue were to pass in November, a habitable renovated or new building could be ready by the fall of 2013.
"That would be nice, but not automatic," said Ricchi.
The MFP process for 2010
The district will create a steering committee to guide the creation of a new MFP.
The committee would be made up of two school board members, Superintendent Scott McKenzie, four school administrators, four school staff members, four teachers, four students, four citizens, four parents, four PTA/PTO members, two clergy, four business persons, a county representative, three realtors, and a mayor or other local elected official.
The steering committee will meet four times to examine the district's building needs and configurations as well as to evaluate public input obtained in two public community forums. (See meeting schedule below.)
"Depending on community input we could have very similar building configurations or vastly different configurations," said Ricchi. "Even the number of buildings the district operates could change. Locations and attendance areas of buildings are obviously a factor, but we need to be cautious about proposed sites to avoid affecting acquisition costs."
When asked if the district's goal is to build new buildings or renovate existing schools, Ricchi replied, "We will not know the goal until we have talked to the community. Wisely, our new board has not stated any specific preferences. The process is designed to flow from the community...the MFP the district develops will be based on community input."
Ricchi said the goal of any school board should be "to provide school facilities that aid in the delivery of quality education while housing students and staff in a safe and healthy environment that can be operated economically."
Officials hope to have the MFP completed by May so it can be presented to the school board for approval in June. From there it would be sent to the OSFC for consideration in July with the State Controlling Board reviewing the state funding in August.
If all this falls into place, district voters could see a bond issue in November.
Groveport Madison and the OSFC
If the school board decides to pursue OSFC funding for building projects, the district's local funding share would be 56 percent of the total building costs while the OSFC would contribute 44 percent. OSFC funds cannot be used to purchase land.
In 2008, Eugene Chipiga, OSFC senior planning manager, presented building assessments and drafts of two master plan building proposals to the district recommending various combinations of demolition, renovation, and construction of new school buildings - one estimated at $134 million and the other for $140 million.
Ricchi said the OSFC is updating that 2008 report and it could be available by March. He said the 2008 OSFC report was not based on any input from the district.
"The OSCF report influences the district's MFP in that it dictates the standards to which schools are built or renovated, but the OSFC report does not dictate the plan," said Ricchi. "What buildings are renovated and or repurposed, or replaced, added to, or consolidated are local decisions. The OSFC only funds renovations or constructions that comply with their standards."
When asked if the district is considering the demolition of any schools, specifically the junior high and Groveport Elementary - which were both placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009 - Ricchi said, "The district participated in placing these structures on the National Register and certainly understands the value the community places on them. The OSFC process creates standards for new and renovated buildings, it then contributes a percentage. It does not dictate how buildings are used and what the district does with local funds."
Master Facilities Plan steering committee meetings and public community forums schedule
•Feb. 11, 6-8 p.m., High school cafeteria: steering committee meeting #1.
•Feb. 25, 6-8 p.m., High school cafeteria: steering committee meeting #2.
•March 11, 6-8 p.m., (site to be determined) community forum #1.
•April 1, 6-8 p.m., High school cafeteria: steering committee meeting #3.
•April 15, 6-8 p.m., (site to be determined) community forum #2.
•May 6, 6-8 p.m., High school cafeteria: steering committee meeting #4.
•May 13, 7 p.m., Steering committee presentation to the Groveport Madison Board of Education.
Groveport Madison's schools
•Asbury Elementary, built in 1963 with additions in 1968 and 1969.
•Dunloe Elementary, built in 1967 with additions in 1968 and 1969.
•Glendening Elementary, built in 1968 with an addition in 1974.
•Groveport Elementary, built in 1923 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
•Madison Elementary, built in 1967 with additions in 1968 and 1969.
•Sedalia Elementary, built in 1969 with an addition in 1974.
•Middle School North, built in 1975.
•Middle School South, built in 1975.
•Junior High, built in stages between 1952-56 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
•High School, built in stages between 1966-70 with an addition in 1975.
| Comments (1) |
On January 28, 2010 Mary said:
Didn't they just miss getting a couple hundred thousand dollars because they didn't file a paper soon enough. Even if it wasn't for buildings it was still for the school. Now come to us for more money. They need to learn to file papers first. |
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