Board discusses scaling back Longfellow scope and shifting bond/PI funds to HVAC and South finishes
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Summary
Facilities staff proposed amending the Longfellow renovation scope to reflect its current light use and reallocate remaining bond funds and interest toward HVAC projects across seven buildings and finishing work at Westerville South; staff noted potential OFCC/CFAP credits (~$25 million) and estimated a Longfellow scope reduction of about $372,000 and a budget reduction of about $683,000.
District facilities staff outlined options for using remaining bond funds and PI (permanent improvement) dollars and sought board feedback on amended scopes for Longfellow and additional work at Westerville South.
Miss Dennis summarized the district’s capital funding mix (general fund, PI fund, COPS financing and bonds) and said the 2019 bond and subsequent work created credits with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC). “We have about 25,000,000 in credits that we're anticipating receiving, when we become eligible,” she said, and staff noted the expedited local partnership and classroom facilities assistance programs that can return roughly "35¢ on the dollar" for eligible work.
Longfellow, a 1931 building now used for the Best‑of‑Both‑Worlds program and related services rather than full‑day kindergarten, is proposed to receive a reduced scope focused on exterior brick repairs, cleaning/sealing, targeted HVAC work and some asphalt/parking repairs rather than a full interior renovation or an elevator. Miss Dennis summarized estimates: "We're estimating... about $372,000 of work that needs to be completed there... reducing the budget by $683,000." Staff said that reduction would free bond funds to address HVAC projects identified for fiscal 2026 and 2027 across seven buildings and to cover targeted finish and programmatic needs at Westerville South.
Board members and staff discussed how the district prioritizes projects (condition, safety, available funds) and how smaller repairs or patches can defer full replacements. Staff described the next steps: an April bid for the FY‑26 HVAC work and a request‑for‑qualifications (RFQ) process for architects/engineers and construction managers; staff estimated the RFQ and procurement timeline would take several months.
No final scope or vote was adopted at this meeting; the board generally expressed support for consolidating funds to complete HVAC projects and for returning in April with bid documents and later with RFQ recommendations for design services.
