Springfield Schools took a step toward seeking a bond issue for a new school building during its Jan. 11 meeting.
A resolution requesting the consents of the superintendent of public instruction and the tax commissioner for the submission of a bond issue to be placed on the May ballot for the school facilities improvement bonds was approved at the regular board meeting. The principal amount would be $33,725,000.
“We will need to have two more meetings to pass resolutions on this bond issue,” said Superintendent William Stauffer. “They need to be passed by Feb. 12. The state commission will also need to approve this resolution.
The new school building would house seventh through 12th grade. It will be a state of the art building to be constructed on the same property of the current high school.
Board member Neal Hess said four months ago he was not in favor of the motion. However, since then with the research that has been done, he does support it fully.
“What really helped turn me strongly in favor of it was that this makes fiscal sense for our district,” Hess said. “Having a new seven through 12 building will help improve finances for the district. From an operations stand point, we will be heating and cooling about 75,000 less square feet. We will attract residents, which will bring in state revenue.”
He said soon replacement of the boiler system, windows and other items will cost the district money.
“All the way around, this is the fiscally responsible thing to do,” said Hess. “The state will be providing a quarter of the funds to do this and I know timing is difficult, but in talking with a resident last week he stated that this building was built during the great depression and if it could be built then, we can do this now.”
Board President Mary Lou Dodson said in presenting the facts to residents, they are astounded as to how little it is going to cost them for this building. She said it used to be when your house taxes went up, the schools received more money as well.
“It is no longer done that way. If taxes go up, the schools receive nothing extra,” Dodson said. “This is an absolute bargain that we should take advantage of. I think it will do so much for our community, so much for our students and is pride for out township.”
“Although it may not be the most opportune time, it is the time,” said board member Cindy Collins. “It is the time for our kids. This is a business decision we are making for the kids and this district. Our children deserve a school where they have the facilities to learn.”
She said the state mandates many things the students need to learn and the district cannot do that in the current facilities.
“Schools are a business and Springfield is worth it and I think we should invest in it,” said Collins.
Personnel issues were presented and accepted including the resignation of Dan Yost, an elected board member. The board will appoint the new member. This position needs to be filled after 10 days from the meeting and before the next meeting so it is important to contact the treasurer immediately.
Interim Treasurer Chris Adams said at this time they are beating budget by $522,737 and he will have more reports to offer once he has been able to review everything.
Business Manager Dan Laskos said the last permanent improvement levy was passed in 1966 and was for $366,000 and today it still brings in the same amount.
“That money went a long ways 44 years ago,” Laskos said. “Today the buildings take a lot more up keep and we are not getting as big a bang for our buck as we did 44 years ago. Eventually, we are going to have to replace things and we are currently are just doing temporary fixes.”
He said the new building does come with a half mill permanent maintenance improvement budget.
“We will be able to use the $366,000 on other buildings instead of this building,” he said.
The board approved an overnight trip for the wrestling team to travel to the Josh Hephner Memorial Wrestling Tournament at Austintown Fitch High School Jan. 22 - 23.
The board went into executive session to discuss personnel and adjourned with no further business.
The next meeting will be Feb.16
Springfield conducts public meeting regarding new school option
The first informational public meeting about a proposed facilities project of a seven to 12 building was held on Jan. 7 in the high school auditorium. The meeting was held to inform residents and give them time to ask questions about the building of the new facility.
Superintendent William Stauffer made a presentation, stating he was fortunate to have the job of updating the public on the accomplishments of the district. There were many listed including increased electives, Roosevelt and Young Schools of Promise, State of Art Distance Learning Lab, excellent band, improved athletics, eighth graders taking classes at the high school (which is a first in the district) and partnering with the community.
Stauffer said the district was approved for the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) Exceptional Needs Program.
“This was an application process and we qualified the first time we applied,” said Stauffer. “Exceptional needs, means just what it says, this building and the junior high have exceptional needs and the state agrees that these buildings need to be replaced.
“People ask, Why a bond issue now? The OSFC has offered $8.5 million to build a new junior high/high school. That money is only good for a year,” said Stauffer. “If we do not use it, we lose it and it will go to another district.”
The money was pledged to the district in August and they have a year to pass a bond issue. The state has currently reduced the amount the OSFC will have for projects in the state from $750 million to $250 million.
“With the state finances the way they are how long with there be money?” Stauffer said. “What we do know is that Springfield’s money is set aside in a pot just waiting for us to pass a bond issue.”
The reasons to build now, Stauffer said include new academic requirements for junior high and high school students. There is more to teach and more required and combining the buildings make the operation more efficient, The interest rates are low and bids are coming in low with the economic conditions. The district will get more for its money and students would spend half of their academic career in a state of the art new facility. He said the new building would create local economic development because the people who are working on the building are paying taxes and there would be spin off money that they spend in the community eating at the restaurants and purchasing gas at the gas stations.
"It certainly will have an economic impact in this community,” said Stauffer.
The OSFC inspected the schools and produced an extensive report for the district. The state will only help monetarily for replacement of buildings. The state will not pay to renovate.
Resident and Building Advisory Committee (BAC) member, Dave Hofer said the maintenance issues with the building included no ventilation systems, bad foundations, no emergency lighting, asbestos, lack of handicap access, life safety issues and more.
The state estimated the cost of renovations to be $15,181,284 for Spring Hill and the replacement cost to be $16,087,185 and for the high school renovation $35,895,605 and replacement cost $44,407,307.
“We expect to have a great operating cost savings with a new building. It will be smaller than the other two buildings combined,” Stauffer stated.
It is anticipated heating costs alone will save the district thousands of dollars.
“I really feel our kids deserve better than what this building has to offer,” Stauffer said.
A new building would increase student safety, provide more opportunities for students.
Questions have been brought up about using the Edwin Shaw property to build a school. The OSFC does not finance the purchase of land. So the cost of the land plus the demolition, especially if there is asbestos and lead would add a lot of cost.
“We think we can build right here on the current site,” said Stauffer.
Resident and BAC member, John Frola said this program was developed for schools that had significant issues.
“We have significant issues at this building. At the Central Building we have safety issues and this program really fits our needs. We have combined the two buildings into one. There is not one single thing we could do in this township that will affect the township and its residents more than a new school. There is no better investment we could make than in our kids,” he said.
Committee member Jerry Williams presented the cost to residents stating that for those 65 and over there is a savings.
“The good part about that is the state picks up that difference that we were to pay and pays it to the schools,” he said. The local share would be $33,705,157 and it would be a 4.9 mill levy which includes a .5 mill maintenance levy. The cost for a $100,000 home would be $12.50 a month and for those 65 and over it would be $9.40 a month.
Steve Miller from MKC Architects stated there will be more public meetings in the future to answer questions, gain input and design ideas from residents.
Questions were taken from those at the meeting and others wrote questions down and those people will receive phone calls to discuss their question. The members of the BAC are informally talking with residents for their input and suggestions.
Miller added that once the building is complete the district is handed the keys and that is where the partnership with the state ends, “It is your building.”
