[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6198862,"mediaKeyId","3842106-cc03bb5f2cda4a5a91d0e599c01f7acf","parentId",3842106,"title","Big Walnut to seek master facility cost estimates; small redistricting change proposed","audioSeconds",887,"startMs",1729000,"endMs",2616000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3842106-cc03bb5f2cda4a5a91d0e599c01f7acf&start=1729&end=2616","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3842106-cc03bb5f2cda4a5a91d0e599c01f7acf/thumbnail_1729000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6198862/Ohio/Big-Walnut-to-seek-master-facility-cost-estimates-small-redistricting-change-proposed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198862-8a7c0cc7e7042772b095a0ab37a9b538/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176254&Signature=bDm9lBgUm2-KQ0oOoOjZZTstdYVDvvlW605Q~7ot0zmIlwQtT5M1-WsG0HKamqwYY7E9E5S6bKKbc8r-rCNXQfI6B-x-SC-1L9Ct-AdfAeSoOvNc1OlALnrmBWiyYwUPuWtOa8m3bsYYsjgUk1OCkt8aCcrgIikEGeg1MrB4Ito4Z4rqfPfY54znVipA5hLum0~LKdV~3DyP60Lgb9E9jOIln89mzk~lnmhiBZcdtFs5jINivndDKA8MjYK7QAnBCw8mmPgGBch~jIIZCNtiCaUJZ3dqVs8srAM~Ahq~~Kw3hqDKbNygmaiEI~W~JEadsQ8xEF49q7wGhzxQSSn78w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Big Walnut Local Schools","date","2025-06-17T12:44:56Z","article","Big Walnut Local School District staff told the board on June 16 they will seek cost and timeline estimates for additions to several elementary schools, continue several capital projects this summer and will notify a small group of future residents about a proposed boundary adjustment that staff said would affect zero current elementary students.

Superintendent-level staff said Garmin Miller is completing a master facility review for the district and will provide a prioritized list of repairs, additions and cost estimates in the coming weeks to help the board decide whether to build additions to Big Walnut Elementary and Souders or pursue other options. The district’s presentation said prior planning estimates suggested roughly $50,000 per new student capacity for additions, and that information will be updated with Garmin Miller’s detailed report.

What will be done this summer: Officials said several projects are already underway or contracted. A major generator project at General Rose Grama Elementary (GRE), the district’s fiber/phone hub, is under construction and expected to finish this summer. The board approved a paving contract with MO Bryant Paving LLC d/b/a Breck's Paving for Big Walnut Middle School and Highland Souders Elementary in the amount of $436,805. The board also approved a $121,219 agreement with Bluegrass Recreational Products LLC to replace mulch with a rubberized, ADA-accessible surface at Prairie Run Elementary’s playground.

105 Baughman and the early learning center: Board members discussed using part of the Baughman campus for an early learning center (ELC). Staff said the south wing conversion could be completed on about a one-year schedule and that the district will present roofing-repair quotes and Garmin Miller’s estimate before asking the board to approve renovation costs. The district expects to have roof- and capacity estimates to share at the July meeting and said it would prefer to present those numbers before asking the board for a vote on a final plan.

Small boundary adjustment and transportation efficiency: District staff proposed redrawing a small attendance boundary south of state Route 3637 so that new apartments and a handful of nearby houses would all be assigned to Big Walnut Elementary instead of splitting the complex between two elementary zones. The staff analysis, which the board said will be posted to the district website and mailed to affected residents, found the change would affect “zero kids that went to an elementary school this past year.” The district said the move would reduce duplication of bus runs and keep neighborhoods together.

Board timeline and next steps: Staff said they expect Garmin Miller’s facility report by July and will present cost estimates and prioritized projects for board discussion. The district plans to present roofing quotes for 105 Baughman at a future June agenda and, pending estimates, could open the proposed ELC at that site for the 2026–27 school year. The board approved the paving and playground contracts at the June 16 meeting; decisions about additions or ELC conversion will return to the board after staff presents firm cost estimates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting - 6/16/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Big Walnut Local School District staff told the board on June 16 they will seek cost and timeline estimates for additions to several elementary schools, continue several capital projects this summer and will notify a small group of future residents about a proposed boundary adjustment that staff said would affect zero current elementary students.","taxTitle","Big Walnut Local, School Districts, Ohio","taxId",59113,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6198865,"Big Walnut officials warn proposed Ohio tax changes could cut district $8.1 million",737,3043000,3780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3842106-cc03bb5f2cda4a5a91d0e599c01f7acf&start=3043&end=3780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3842106-cc03bb5f2cda4a5a91d0e599c01f7acf/thumbnail_3043000.jpg","/articles/6198865/Ohio/Big-Walnut-officials-warn-proposed-Ohio-tax-changes-could-cut-district-81-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198865-45fd965b3a21884713fb502ce52aaa91/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176254&Signature=ZkcEBsjAu6a0c7AnSe2P1icuU84~HoquKOFvaZeBdbVJZ7ghclQvTD8huwZqt73HwgCzocxIj9WmuE-yPtF8qHdBwTJQ-8c02VtJCDF0t~~tTjy2M7KArNomDxvQKWsJXnZ6QJhp4H4fxJz5ZZcU1Pl8fUDSBnltAHuttjgQGzCq6RE8-7T6deLSk8a8mNo9P6X6cuqOzGIETWRou7AP9EJ-55zXOW55VqUy2V0bITrGnRc~pUBPp54R7LXVv5aCyYVHjyAMH1ftEiiGPo848mt~6cXYJkl4IIZrlYkeIEbT4H21P0iIPbKxPSZ7ozV7h8rGzV~eRm3qd8v~MPpZkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Big Walnut Local School District officials told the school board on June 16 that proposed changes in the Ohio Legislature could sharply reduce the district’s property-tax revenue and force new local levies.

Interim Treasurer/CFO Jace Alcoutin submitted written testimony to the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee outlining concerns about House Bill 335 and related proposals and saying, “If the inside millage goes away, we'll lose $8,100,000.” He described the package of bills as “the most comprehensive changes to Ohio's property tax system in nearly 50 years” and urged lawmakers to reject provisions that he said would shift revenue burdens to residential taxpayers and penalize districts that maintain reserves.

Why it matters: Big Walnut depends heavily on local revenue. Alcoutin’s testimony summarized the district’s FY2025 revenue mix and warned that eliminating inside millage or imposing caps on cash balances would reduce predictable funding for operations and capital projects.

Alcoutin said the district is 81.77% reliant on local operating revenue in FY2025, with 50.52% coming from real estate taxes, 6.79% from public utility personal property taxes and 19.06% from income taxes. He told the board the bills under discussion include House Bill 129, House Bill 186, House Bill 309, and the new House Bill 335; he also referenced House Bill 96’s proposed cap on cash balances. Alcoutin described a likely combined effect: “these bills, when taken together, create a double bind,” and said they would “erode the stability and credibility of Ohio's public education system.”

District advocacy and next steps: Alcoutin said he submitted written testimony and will attend the committee meeting at the State House. Board and district staff reported meetings with local officials and legislators; Alcoutin said he and district staff met with Representative Leer and that he had spoken with Mayor Saint John and Galena Mayor Cannell to coordinate concerns. Public commenters also urged action: parent Molly Snodgrass told the board, “Making school boards partisan will inject politics into schools,” and urged the board to press lawmakers on the package and mobilize the community. Resident Michael Wagner also spoke about the broader public interest in public education funding.

Board response and procedural note: Board members discussed whether the board should formally endorse Alcoutin’s written testimony. Several board members expressed reluctance to take a formal board-level political position. The board did not adopt a resolution; Alcoutin’s written testimony was submitted individually to the committee and the treasurer said he would share it with local officials.

Background and potential scale: Alcoutin’s written materials said inside millage represents roughly half of school-district property tax collections statewide and that repeal would remove inside millage collection for all local governments except townships as of Jan. 1, 2026, under the bill’s language as presented to the committee. Alcoutin and others warned that the district could face immediate multimillion-dollar revenue losses and would likely need to return to voters to replace lost funding if the proposals become law.

What the district will do next: District staff said they are continuing outreach to legislators and local elected officials and will share information with the community. Alcoutin and district staff asked the board to monitor legislative activity and to provide data needed to advocate for alternatives to the proposed changes. No formal board vote on a position was taken at the June 16 meeting.","Big Walnut Local School District officials told the school board on June 16 that proposed changes in the Ohio Legislature could sharply reduce the district’s property-tax revenue and force new local levies.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6198853,"Board approves bond resolutions to place $19 million community library measure on ballot",1037,4879000,5916000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3842106-cc03bb5f2cda4a5a91d0e599c01f7acf&start=4879&end=5916","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3842106-cc03bb5f2cda4a5a91d0e599c01f7acf/thumbnail_4879000.jpg","/articles/6198853/Ohio/Board-approves-bond-resolutions-to-place-19-million-community-library-measure-on-ballot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198853-067f82964f38abfde70321d613fad2e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176254&Signature=fLAJEuJEAs7C0AvR1Y~eRH~EIuKqhEVXtfrKaI3QSXz4QpYgLVsORAShaaFaQcmgd3Ku8IUWbjPgtxO5XpD6jIDpDGV-U36B1Xk7vjUvTw7Cp1j9XfwovgO6RNlyMYln-tIhwRFhTvRM3DYj4ovjozFXcQCiIigS0wD9ZpoKFiH8lpPv6f4ZzP6Zvtj2a667u2yJa755CSkOc2qkR2XFZGSPgEk2eBDJic5yLOJxdjMvtFEvAy2L51WFhnLrd1iDSyOF-vU6yh386WjCy6oQeJXQRvDyvBI0fm3~AoJjTcn1d80uCBOaObuCVwLvgKe~QZDDEHibFJoVMdLuARk47Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Big Walnut Board of Education on June 16 approved a pair of resolutions to move a proposed $19 million bond issue for the community library toward the ballot.

District officials said they would file a resolution requesting state consent and special-need approval with the Ohio Department of Education and the Department of Taxation and will submit a declaration of necessity to the Delaware County auditor’s office. The board approved both resolutions on unanimous recorded votes.

What happens next: staff said they will submit required documents to state agencies and, once the county auditor returns a millage estimate, bring a resolution to proceed on the June 26 board agenda. The district’s presentation noted legal review with bond counsel and municipal advisors and stated the maximum maturity of the bonds is 30 years per the certificate of estimated life and maximum maturity.

Votes: Board members recorded unanimous yes votes on both the resolution requesting state consents and special-need approval and the resolution declaring necessity of the bond issue.

Background: The district indicated it coordinated with the library and county officials ahead of the filings and will finalize ballot language and millage numbers after the auditor's calculations.","The board passed resolutions to request state consents and to declare the necessity of a $19 million bond issue for the community library; district staff said filings will be submitted to state and county offices and a formal resolution to proceed will return after the county auditor provides the millage estimate.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6198858,"District previews Gallopade social studies and TCI science textbooks for rising fourth- and fifth-graders",131,700000,831000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3842106-cc03bb5f2cda4a5a91d0e599c01f7acf&start=700&end=831","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3842106-cc03bb5f2cda4a5a91d0e599c01f7acf/thumbnail_700000.jpg","/articles/6198858/Ohio/District-previews-Gallopade-social-studies-and-TCI-science-textbooks-for-rising-fourth-and-fifth-graders","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198858-b7d3ae7a53dec97b8eca245aae750969/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176254&Signature=hOk-LmdrwORx9oH-Vbc~xy6bfBRncikZtOLPToD1vFjttjcdk3~K~5sZTyV9-rBWtX8mabBy73c4VWNwxAh3sRzPDtbM2YDak0t0Qr5RMSkpzPwFvFC~BJKxMHMcdUl73P59kTpC2F-X9gVAAVfMhn2FaGue9mDLoSGQygrf9-6pZual6NkErmkBs9MJAF~RKOW0I09~9JVvwqJezdyp3h89V9JA4mUXADOINx68HWqTd~MdEOB0q327BEtVa5at~Y60ZJaBlOsVRpb05HLL70xKM2UFP2b1FHfWmrxTVIe~oYaBTVPh0VxwPFEuGEXBKhXZ0prX7J-duaepYBxfFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Big Walnut Local School District staff told the board on June 16 they are previewing two textbook series for fourth- and fifth-grade social studies and science and plan to return in July with a recommendation.

Curriculum coordinator Michael Robertson (presenting) said teachers and building administrators reviewed options and that Gallopade International is the publisher being considered for fourth- and fifth-grade social studies while TCI is the publisher under consideration for fourth- and fifth-grade science. Robertson said preview copies will be available in the board office for the next month and that the district will email rising fourth- and fifth-grade families so they can review materials and ask questions.

Timeline and scope: Robertson described the adoption as “a relatively small adoption compared to the one we just got done doing on ELA” and said, if approved, the materials would be implemented in the coming school year. Board members asked for a breakdown of Ohio State Test results; Robertson said he would bring a results summary to the July meeting as requested.

No formal adoption vote was taken on June 16; staff said they will return with the adoption item for board consideration in July after family previews and internal review.","Big Walnut staff told the board preview copies of two intermediate-level textbook series will be available for families and board members; formal adoption is expected in July if the board approves.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Big Walnut to seek master facility cost estimates; small redistricting change proposed

Big Walnut officials warn proposed Ohio tax changes could cut district $8.1 million

Board approves bond resolutions to place $19 million community library measure on ballot

District previews Gallopade social studies and TCI science textbooks for rising fourth- and fifth-graders