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GM Schools begin facilities review process
(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - February 12, 2010)
Work has begun on creating a new master facilities plan (MFP) for Groveport Madison Local Schools with the organization of a steering committee on Feb. 11.
The steering committee, made up of community members, will:
•meet three more times to examine the district's building needs and configurations;
•evaluate public input about the district's facilities needs obtained in two upcoming public community forums (see sidebar below for meeting schedule);
•and make recommendations to the Groveport Madison Board of Education.
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.
"Our buildings aren't getting any younger," said Groveport Madison Superintendent Scott McKenzie at the Feb. 11 steering committee meeting. "We have to ask how long our buildings will be able to hold up."
McKenzie said funding from the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) is available right now for the district to use for buildings. If the school board decides to pursue OSFC funding for building projects, the district's local funding share would be 57 percent of the total building costs while the OSFC would contribute 43 percent. OSFC funds cannot be used to purchase land.
"If you don't take advantage of the available money, some other district will," Eugene Chipiga, OSFC senior planning manager, told the steering committee.
Chuck Warner, who is an architect and educational planner with Warner Concepts LLC, advised the steering committee it must come up with a "community based MFP" to be presented to the OSFC for approval.
"You need to seek a district wide solution and determine what's best for the kids," said Warner.
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.
Master Facilities Plan
steering committee and public community forums schedule
•Feb. 25, 6-8 p.m., high school cafeteria: steering committee meeting.
•March 11, 6-8 p.m., (site to be determined) community forum #1 to gather input from the public about facilities.
•April 1, 6-8 p.m., high school cafeteria: steering committee meeting to develop facility options.
•April 15, 6-8 p.m., (site to be determined) community forum #2 where facility options will be presented to be evaluated by the public.
•May 6, 6-8 p.m., high school cafeteria: steering committee meeting to finalize facility options and recommendations.
•May 13, 7 p.m., Steering committee presentation of master facilities plan recommendations to the Groveport Madison Board of Education for the board's consideration.
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.
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