July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Fort officials balk at proposal (7/13/05)
By By Jack Ronald-
FORT RECOVERY — Local school officials have had it with the Ohio School Facilities Commission.
At the recommendation of superintendent David Riel, board members took no action Tuesday — either to accept or to decline — on a pair of proposals from OSFC on possible renovation work at Fort Recovery High School.
Riel told the board his repeated efforts to talk with OSFC officials in hopes of resolving disagreements over the state’s share of funding the school improvement work have been fruitless.
Two OSFC proposals were still on the table this week, but while the projects are vastly different in terms of cost and scope the OSFC commitment is the same: $911,054.
One proposal — not favored by Riel or the board — would involve demolition of the old portion of the high school and construction of a new 10,000-square-foot addition. OSFC would provide $911,054, with more than $1.5 million coming from the Fort Recovery Local School District.
The other would involve renovating the entire high school, adding air conditioning, a sprinkler system and all new mechanical equipment. OSFC indicated it would provide the same $911,054 of the cost, with more than $5.9 million coming from the school district.
Riel and board members have balked at both.
The first is viewed as too expensive when weighed against the benefits; it would also involve moving the pre-school out of the building and eliminating the local shop classrooms. The second has drawn opposition because the share of the cost borne by the OSFC is dramatically less and because the overall pricetag is so high.
The OSFC has greatly reduced its original numbers, proposing to shift more of the construction cost to the local school district, citing the district’s current low debt load.
By not accepting the OSFC proposals and by not formally rejecting them, Riel told the board he hopes the issue can be resolved without shutting off possible OSFC support in the future.
“I’m sure they’re hoping we’ll go away,” said Riel.
Meanwhile, board members expressed frustration that the project has already cost the school system more than $10,000 in architectural fees to Fanning and Howey, Celina, without moving forward.
In other business, the board:
•Heard reports from principals Ted Shuttleworth and Nancy Knapke on reading and math achievement test results and new information being provided to schools, teachers and parents. “It’s just a great data analysis piece for the district,” said Shuttleworth. “It’s excellent information.” The reports will be the focus of this month’s summer in-service week.
•Learned from FRHS principal Ed Snyder that the preliminary local report card for the high school looks excellent. Graduation rates and attendance rates are high, and discipline problems are few. “Our kids come to school to behave,” said Snyder. “That’s one of the great things about teaching in Fort Recovery.” Detailed data from the report card is still undergoing revision and will be released later by the state.
•Were told by Knapke that locally controlled federal funds for schools will be down by $22,798 in the year ahead. However, federal funding for special education programs, which are handled through the Mercer County Educational Service Center, is down only about $5,000.
•Set school lunch prices for the 2005-06 school year at the same level as last year, $1.50 for kindergarten through grade five, $1.75 for grades six through 12, $2.50 for adults and 25 cents for milk.
•Set elementary and middle school fees for the new school year at $40 for kindergarten through grade eight. There is a possibility of a part-time kindergarten group, which would have a $30 fee.
•Set pre-school tuition fees. In district, two days a week, with no alternating Fridays will be $55 a month; in district two days a week, alternating Fridays will be $60 a month, in district four days a week will be $80 a month; out of district, two days a week, no alternating Fridays will be $65 a month, out of district, two days a week, alternating Fridays, will be $80 a month; out of district four days a week will be $105 a month; reduced tuition for those who meet income guidelines will be $22 a month. There is a 5 percent prepayment discount if the full year is paid for by Oct. 1.
•Approved supplemental contracts for Jason Horstman and Kyle Wehrkamp as assistant football coaches at the high school, Randy Diller as junior high head football coach and William Bechtol and Edward Wehrkamp as junior high assistant football coaches.
•Discussed but took no action on a proposal to approve an application for participation in First Choice Credit Union, Coldwater.[[In-content Ad]]
At the recommendation of superintendent David Riel, board members took no action Tuesday — either to accept or to decline — on a pair of proposals from OSFC on possible renovation work at Fort Recovery High School.
Riel told the board his repeated efforts to talk with OSFC officials in hopes of resolving disagreements over the state’s share of funding the school improvement work have been fruitless.
Two OSFC proposals were still on the table this week, but while the projects are vastly different in terms of cost and scope the OSFC commitment is the same: $911,054.
One proposal — not favored by Riel or the board — would involve demolition of the old portion of the high school and construction of a new 10,000-square-foot addition. OSFC would provide $911,054, with more than $1.5 million coming from the Fort Recovery Local School District.
The other would involve renovating the entire high school, adding air conditioning, a sprinkler system and all new mechanical equipment. OSFC indicated it would provide the same $911,054 of the cost, with more than $5.9 million coming from the school district.
Riel and board members have balked at both.
The first is viewed as too expensive when weighed against the benefits; it would also involve moving the pre-school out of the building and eliminating the local shop classrooms. The second has drawn opposition because the share of the cost borne by the OSFC is dramatically less and because the overall pricetag is so high.
The OSFC has greatly reduced its original numbers, proposing to shift more of the construction cost to the local school district, citing the district’s current low debt load.
By not accepting the OSFC proposals and by not formally rejecting them, Riel told the board he hopes the issue can be resolved without shutting off possible OSFC support in the future.
“I’m sure they’re hoping we’ll go away,” said Riel.
Meanwhile, board members expressed frustration that the project has already cost the school system more than $10,000 in architectural fees to Fanning and Howey, Celina, without moving forward.
In other business, the board:
•Heard reports from principals Ted Shuttleworth and Nancy Knapke on reading and math achievement test results and new information being provided to schools, teachers and parents. “It’s just a great data analysis piece for the district,” said Shuttleworth. “It’s excellent information.” The reports will be the focus of this month’s summer in-service week.
•Learned from FRHS principal Ed Snyder that the preliminary local report card for the high school looks excellent. Graduation rates and attendance rates are high, and discipline problems are few. “Our kids come to school to behave,” said Snyder. “That’s one of the great things about teaching in Fort Recovery.” Detailed data from the report card is still undergoing revision and will be released later by the state.
•Were told by Knapke that locally controlled federal funds for schools will be down by $22,798 in the year ahead. However, federal funding for special education programs, which are handled through the Mercer County Educational Service Center, is down only about $5,000.
•Set school lunch prices for the 2005-06 school year at the same level as last year, $1.50 for kindergarten through grade five, $1.75 for grades six through 12, $2.50 for adults and 25 cents for milk.
•Set elementary and middle school fees for the new school year at $40 for kindergarten through grade eight. There is a possibility of a part-time kindergarten group, which would have a $30 fee.
•Set pre-school tuition fees. In district, two days a week, with no alternating Fridays will be $55 a month; in district two days a week, alternating Fridays will be $60 a month, in district four days a week will be $80 a month; out of district, two days a week, no alternating Fridays will be $65 a month, out of district, two days a week, alternating Fridays, will be $80 a month; out of district four days a week will be $105 a month; reduced tuition for those who meet income guidelines will be $22 a month. There is a 5 percent prepayment discount if the full year is paid for by Oct. 1.
•Approved supplemental contracts for Jason Horstman and Kyle Wehrkamp as assistant football coaches at the high school, Randy Diller as junior high head football coach and William Bechtol and Edward Wehrkamp as junior high assistant football coaches.
•Discussed but took no action on a proposal to approve an application for participation in First Choice Credit Union, Coldwater.[[In-content Ad]]
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