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Indian Creek studies facilities

The Indian Creek Local Board of Education heard from representatives of SHP Leading Designs, the Cincinnati firm consulting on the district’s master facilities plan, who gave them an update on potential options. On hand were, from left, Dan Roberts, business development manager; Superintendent T.C. Chappelear; and Josh Predovich, project manager. — Jess Looman

MINGO JUNCTION — Potential options for master facilities plans to upgrade schools throughout the district were discussed during Thursday’s Indian Creek Board of Education meeting.

Josh Predovich and Dan Roberts of SHP Leading Design, the Cincinnati-based firm that is consulting on the plan, made a presentation during the meeting and said matters still remain preliminary, but there are some avenues to consider. Predovich, who serves as project manager, said representatives have been meeting with the district and Ohio School Facilities Commission about funding opportunities and wanted to let the board know where things stand.

“These are extremely preliminary, and more information needs to be gathered,” he stated. “There are opportunities in December and January that may firm things up for the district. As part of the facilities plan process, we are working with you to understand the process. We’re your advocate and look for what best suits your district.”

He said the goal is to engage with the OSFC for building assessments and enrollment; listen to the community through focus groups, forums, and surveys; research the sites; develop the facilities plan; and make a recommendation. Predovich added the district has fallen under the OSFC’s Exceptional Needs Plan in the past, which aided the development of Indian Creek Middle School, and other buildings have been entered for the state’s consideration.

“As of now, the local and state share was split 60-40 percent,” he added. “Some options have a local funding impact, but the ultimate goal is to maximize state funding.”

Predovich gave a timeline of events, saying the district could obtain the bond issue in one year with construction under way in the next two to three years, while the new facilities would be open around 2020-21.

“Building assessments were done roughly five years ago and updates have mostly been done on paper, but they will be tested before the master plan is completed,” he noted. “The state also provides a two-thirds rule whereby a site should be replaced if costs to refurbish exceed those for construction; however, there are exceptions in some cases if the district chose to seek a waiver.”

He said the district still can receive funding approval, but options included not accepting state funding and doing a cost analysis on the structures; creating a new high school under the Exceptional Needs Plan with no co-funded work at the elementary schools; building a new high school and Wintersville Elementary with possible renovations at Hills; building a new high school and WES combination and adding Hills to the middle school; or waiting up to three years for potential Classroom Facilities Assistance Funding.

In other matters, the board approved the five-year forecast following a presentation by Treasurer Denise Todoroff, who said figures have not really changed since May and the latest figures would be submitted to the state. The district could expect to see a deficit around fiscal year 2019, but officials were looking at ways to balance the budget.

“Our five-year forecast is a general operating fund,” she said. “This is the summary to show where we think we’ll be and what we need to project five years out. We will be in deficit spending because expenditures exceed operating revenue by $440,000. In 2018-19, we will have a deficit balance.”

She cited growing health care costs and said a majority of expenses were for salaries and benefits, while other costs included service fees.

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