Board authorizes pursuit of $80 million state classroom aid; receipt conditional on local levy

The New Philadelphia City School District Board of Education voted to authorize participation in the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission Classroom Facilities Assistance Program (CFAP), moving the district toward accepting a proposed $80 million state contribution toward its facility master plan.

The resolution, which carried on a roll call vote, authorizes the district to pursue the state funding offer; if the offer is finalized by the state controlling board in July, the district would have 16 months to raise the required local share. The district's receipt of the $80 million is explicitly conditional on the passing of a local levy to provide the local share.

Mrs. Wenner, district official, told the board the state's offer would let the district "move forward with construction of both the elementary and the high school building if we can raise our local share." She said the award would not become final until the controlling board meets in July and repeated that the $80 million would not be received if the levy does not pass.

Board members cast unanimous recorded votes in favor during the roll call on the motion. Those recorded during the vote include Missus Strak, Mr. McMath, Mr. Galentine, Ms. Fontana and Mr. Rickwick (all recorded as "yes" in the meeting minutes).

District officials explained the change from a previously used expedited local partnership approach: under CFAP the state would advance its portion of funding rather than reimburse the district later. The board was told the state portion would be $80,000,000 and that the district would be responsible for raising its local share within the stated timeframe should the state offer be finalized.

Next steps described at the meeting: final action by the state controlling board in July to make the offer official, followed by district work to determine the exact local levy proposal and timeline to raise the local share.