Valley View Local says $826,000 brownfield award will cover most of Hartman School demolition; future sale undecided

Valerie, the district superintendent, told the board that the district secured a federal brownfield award to help demolish the former Hartman School and reduce the cost burden on taxpayers. "The award totaled about $826,000 covering approximately 75% of the demolition costs," Valerie said, summarizing the grant and the district's role in pursuing it.

Valerie outlined the timeline and project partners: the district engaged Verdantas as the environmental partner, worked with the Montgomery County Land Bank to submit the final application to the Ohio Department of Development, and targeted a Department of Defense (DOD) brownfield grant window in February 2025. According to the superintendent, Montgomery County Land Bank submitted the application to the DOD on Feb. 19, 2025, and the district was notified on June 5 that the project had been awarded.

She said environmental maintenance work was nearly complete and that demolition is expected to begin imminently. "No decision regarding the future of the property had been made by the board of education," Valerie added, saying the next steps will include completing demolition, obtaining an updated commercial appraisal of the property, and evaluating disposition options permitted under Ohio Revised Code 3313.41.

Valerie also addressed recent public statements that suggested a village department played the primary role in securing the demolition funding. "The factual record indicates the district initiated conversations with every county land bank," she said, and described the district's investment of staff time, legal review and grant-management work. She said the village's involvement was limited primarily to informational meetings and a letter of support.

The superintendent said the district prioritized protecting taxpayer resources throughout the process and that parties expect to finalize an agreement for other repurposed district buildings where appropriate. The district did not set a sale price and said any future sale would be based on an appraisal and factors including community benefit.

The board did not take a formal vote on the property's disposition at this meeting; Valerie said the board must discuss options in a properly noticed meeting if it wishes to pursue a sale.

What happens next: the district will finish environmental work, begin demolition, obtain a commercial appraisal once the site is cleared and bring any recommended disposition back to the full board in a noticed meeting.