School board moves to preserve spot in Ohio facilities program while studying building options

At a special meeting the school board directed staff to begin completing an application to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission's Expedited Local Partnership Program, board members said. The step would preserve the district's position on the state's school-construction list and the funding percentage tied to that placement while the district continues studying long-term facility needs.

Mr. Schneider, a district staff member who introduced the agenda item, said the discussion is an exploratory step prompted by rising special-education enrollments entering kindergarten and the district's need for more instructional space. He told the board the district held two focus-group meetings with parents and community members that recommended pursuing further study and community input before committing to a building proposal.

Mike Watkins, a district staff member introduced by Schneider, explained the expedited local partnership program as essentially a placeholder with the OFCC that saves a district's place in line and preserves the state funding percentage associated with that placement. "It's a placeholder ... it saves your place in line," Watkins said. He added that entering the program does not lock the district into building: "You can opt out at any time," he said.

Watkins summarized how past participation had preserved a roughly 20% state share for a previous project and said about $20 million from that earlier middle-school project remains available to the district to apply toward a future project. He cautioned that the percentage a district ultimately receives can range widely and noted that once a percentage is locked in it would remain for that project.

Board members asked whether the district could begin building on its own and later decline state funds; Watkins confirmed the district could front a project and decline the OFCC funds if desired. Members also sought clarification about the district's current bond schedule and tax language; speakers said the current bond is set to expire "end of '28" as discussed at the meeting and that any new financing for construction would be a new bond rather than an operating levy.

Discussion also covered locally funded initiatives: even if the OFCC funds part of a project, the district could choose to exceed OFCC standards by contributing additional local dollars. Board members and staff said architectural advisers encouraged the district to enter the program now to preserve options and avoid falling behind on timing and optics should a future building request go to voters.

After discussion the board agreed to begin completing the ELPP application, with staff directed to start the application process the following day. There was no substantive vote on building or financing at the meeting; Schneider and Watkins said any eventual building decisions, bond language or voter questions would return to the board for formal action and community engagement.

A motion to adjourn was made and seconded and passed on a roll-call vote: Greg Dickman yes; Nikki New yes; Stephanie Wilson yes; Rory Kimmel yes; Zach Bos yes. The board adjourned following the vote.