By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
The Groveport Madison Board of Education is seeking more information from the state before considering placing a bond issue to construct new schools on a future ballot.
“The board decided to meet with Ohio Facilities Construction Commission officials to find out more about how and when funds for new schools would be available, what the process would entail, and what the timeline could be before considering placing a bond issue on the ballot,” said Groveport Madison Communications Director Jeff Warner. “This will be a foundation conversation.”
Warner said the board has not made any decision at this time about the timing of a future bond issue or what potential new school building configurations might be.
“We will involve the people of the community for their input on any decisions about the process, overall planning, the development plan, and the communications plan regarding the potential for any new schools,” said Groveport Madison Superintendent Garilee Ogden.
Groveport Madison last placed a bond issue before the voters in May 2019. That issue, which was combined with an operating levy, was rejected by the voters by 54 to 46 percent. Voters later did approve a separate operating levy in November 2019.
The bond issue that failed last May was for $83.6 million and would have generated funds to build three new pre-K through sixth grade elementary schools and one new middle school for grades seven and eight. The pre-K through sixth grade buildings would hold about 1,067 students each and the middle school would hold about 1,000 students. It would also have provided funds to demolish the existing elementary schools and middle schools. Had that bond issue been approved, it would have reduced the number of schools in the district from 10 to five. If it had been approved, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission would have funded 53 percent of the total estimated $148.7 million cost of the project and Groveport Madison would have funded 47 percent.
In 2012, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission recommended the district replace all of its schools because the cost to renovate them would exceed the cost of building new. (The high school has already been replaced.)
Groveport Madison’s elementary and middle schools
•Asbury Elementary – Built in 1963 with additions in 1968 and 1969. Enrollment, 461. Functional capacity, 425.
•Dunloe Elementary – Built in 1967 with additions in 1968 and 1969. Enrollment, 391. Functional capacity, 425.
•Glendening Elementary – Built in 1968 with addition in 1974. Enrollment, 451. Functional capacity, 425.
•Groveport Elementary – Built in 1923. Enrollment, 432. Functional capacity, 425. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
•Madison Elementary – Built in 1967 with additions in 1968 and 1969. Enrollment, 332. Functional capacity, 425.
•Sedalia Elementary – Built in 1969 with addition in 1974. Enrollment, 672. Functional capacity, 446.
•Middle School North – Built in 1975. Enrollment, 497. Functional capacity, 425.
•Middle School South – Built in 1975. Enrollment, 465. Functional capacity, 425.
•Middle School Central – Built in stages as a high school between 1952-56. Enrollment, 451. Functional capacity, 425. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
(Functional capacity is 85 percent of original design capacity and reflects modern requirements for classroom space and programming. Source: Groveport Madison Schools.)
