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Vote YES for Strong
Schools Strong Community
You Become Your Choices - Make Good Ones!
By Doug Fries, Superintendent
As a young man growing up I recall my parents instilling in me a phrase
I have never forgotten. That phrase was "You become your choices so
make good ones." This is a phrase I have used to guide my own personal
life and career as an educator. Of course, making the best choices
often involves taking the hand you were dealt, identifying the
alternatives, evaluating the options and doing what makes the most
sense.
As the educational leader of Greenville Schools, I have worked with the
Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and Garmann Miller Architects
and Engineers this past year to review our master plan for facility
building upgrades for our district. Our district is considered a lapsed
district because we have missed our turn on their equity list.
Therefore, we will not be co-¬funded with a building project with the
OFCC until we pass our portion of the project locally. Upon passing a
bond issue locally, we will qualify for state appropriation of funding
toward the project at their next funding cycle. Based on the OFCC
equity formula, presently Greenville would qualify for 43% funding from
the state for items that are allowable through their Classroom Facility
Assistance Program. In essence, this is the hand we are dealt, our best
option, if we want state assistance in this building project to upgrade
our school facilities.
The master plan that the district has developed includes the
construction of a new K-8 school building through an allowable
segmented program. The district has also chosen to include locally
funded initiatives at the high school to allow for renovations of this
building. This approach allows for our community to make a district
wide significant upgrade to our school facilities. The master plan also
allows for the removal and abatement of the South School, East School,
Woodland Heights School and the Junior High School, should the district
determine to do so. Final decisions on which buildings to remove can be
made at a later date, but funding is included for removal. Renovations
at the high school would include new roofing, plumbing and fixture
upgrades, window replacement, security system improvement, handicapped
accessible doors, technology upgrades to cabling, cameras and
equipment, increasing cafeteria space and additional equipment in
kitchen, as well as upgrades in HVAC.
The master plan for the new K-8 building calls for a projected cost of
$45,344,483. The state would appropriate $19,498,127 and our cost would
be $25,846,356. In addition to our cost of the master plan we have
included some additional locally funded initiatives that total
$9,921,156 at the K-8 facility. The LFI (Locally Funded Initiative)
would cover additional academic space (gymnasium, locker rooms, special
education, technology, future growth), as well as terrazzo flooring,
and a standing seam metal roof to improve longevity and eliminate
maintenance of the new building. The renovations at the high school
previously mentioned would also be LFI amounting to $9,232,488. LFI's
are items not covered by the state in funding but yet necessary for the
benefit of the students and community.
The total cost of the district wide master plan for facility upgrades
would be $64,498,127. The state contribution to the project would be
$19,498,127. This would leave the bond issue amount to run at
$45,000,000.
Total Mills on the ballot will be 5.69 (bond issue 5.19/maintenance
levy .5 mills). This will cover both the local portion of the Classroom
Facility Assistance Program and the selected LFI's. It also includes
the required .5 mill permanent improvement levy for the maintenance of
the new facility by the OFCC. This bond financing is based on a 37 year
repayment program now available and attractive due to low interest
rates.
In this option we have $19,498,127 that will be appropriated to us from
the state should we pass our local portion to upgrade our school
facilities. Our choice to make this a reality is to pass our portion
for $45,000,000 via the bond issue on August 6, 2013.
Our alternative option is to vote the bond issue down. If we vote the
bond issue down we are saying we want to continue to educate our
children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends in a 1923 junior high
school, South Middle School that is over 100 years old, and in Woodland
Heights Primary that has almost as many modular classrooms as
classrooms inside the building.
So, these are our choices and we have identified our options while
following the OFCC required regulations. Now we must each evaluate the
options to make our choice that we must live with as a school district
and community.
In summary, here is how I evaluate the options and I hope the majority
of voters will agree that it is a good choice. I will vote "FOR" for
the bond issue/maintenance levy at Greenville Schools for the following
reasons:
Interest rates are based upon 4.25% rate over 37 years. If we wait
longer to pass an issue, I believe this percentage will increase and
expenses will be more.
It will allow us to use 43% of state funding for allowable space in the
Classroom Facility Assistance Program. I want our community to get
their portion of the state tax dollars as so many other districts have
done. I believe our students, staff and community are deserving of this
bargain. If we do not upgrade our facilities while getting state
assistance, I think we will struggle to ever do so at total expense to
us.
New buildings will improve the security and safety of our buildings for
our students and staff. In today's society and the issues we are
confronted with, I want to give our students and staff every possible
advantage at safety and security. Fewer entrances with more controlled
access and upgraded building technology will assure this advantage.
New facilities will improve the general classroom space for our
students in the K-8 facility built to OFCC standards. It will improve
the climate in the buildings, which will improve and enhance the
educational delivery process for our students and staff.
New facilities will improve science laboratories; improve educational
space for the visual and performing arts classrooms, as well as
gymnasium space for physical education and extra-curricular activities.
This will enhance the educational delivery process in science and the
fine arts.
It will enhance the technology throughout our buildings while improving
our students 21st Century Learning Skills, which is a necessity to all
children to be successful today.
It makes the entire school complex handicapped accessible to all
students and adults.
A new facility promotes a green environmentally friendly school climate
to enhance the educational environment.
I believe upgraded school facilities will assist in attracting economic
development of business, industry and manufacturing.
I believe home values will go up over the next 37 years with the
upgrading of school facilities. Improved home values can offset part of
the increase in taxes from the bond issue.
I will not vote against the bond issue for the following reasons:
This would say I believe we should keep our kids attending school in
older buildings that are not as safe, secure and environmentally
friendly as they could be.
This would say I do not want to utilize state funding that is available
which so many other schools and districts have taken advantage.
This would say I do not want to take advantage of low interest rates
that are available now.
This would continue to force the citizens to spend money on maintenance
of older buildings that is not a good investment, such as:
*New roofing
*Replacement and maintaining of boilers
*Replacement and maintaining of old plumbing pipe and fixtures
From my evaluation of which option makes sense, it is obvious to me
that it is the option to vote "FOR" Greenville Schools bond
issue/maintenance levy on August 6, 2013. I hope the majority of the
district evaluates the option the same way. I believe it is a good
choice. We become our choices. Strong Schools equal a Strong Community.
I also look forward to becoming another school district in Ohio that
has updated their school facilities utilizing state funding. Our board
of education stands unanimous with the administration to upgrade our
school facilities with this master plan.
Feel free to contact me at my office with questions about the upcoming
issue. I can be reached at 937-548-3185 or by email at
dfriesPgreenville.k12.oh.us.
Doug Fries,
Superintendent Greenville City Schools
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