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Thursday, 14 August 2008 |
By MARY BARGDILL
Staff Writer
NEW BREMEN — During a tour of the junior high football field bleachers and elementary school building Wednesday evening, New Bremen School Board members had an opportunity to review the condition of the facilities.
Following an inspection of the bleachers last spring by the Auglaize County Health Department, it was determined that the north end of the bleachers, which is most often used by students, appears to be in the greatest need of repair. Any repairs or replacement of the bleachers would be needed to remain in compliance with Jarod’s Law.
One suggestion by bleacher inspectors, H and H Enterprises out of Grand Haven, Mich., was to remove the old wooden floor boards and replace them, possibly with aluminum flooring. It was determined the steel frame of the bleachers and the seating were in acceptable condition.
Estimated cost of replacing the old floor boards with new wooden floor boards is between $7,000 and $10,000. It would also include the cost of a toe board at the back and top layer of the bleachers.
“I really would like us to ponder this for awhile,” Superintendent Ann Harvey said. “We’ll go ahead and find out some extra cost.”
During Wednesday evening’s tour of the elementary and junior high school building, Elementary School Principal Karen Smith and Assistant Principal Howard Overman pointed out areas of interest for board members, covering everything from the heating system to windows, ceilings and lighting in the classrooms. They also toured the cafeteria, kitchen, gymnasiums and restrooms, showing what renovations had been made in recent years, and which projects were still pending.
The tour of the school included the original 1929 structure, as well as additions that were made in 1956, 1969, the 1970s and 1991.
Maintenance to the school district’s facilities is funded through the Permanent Improvement Fund which is supported by a 1-mil levy.
“The furnace is on borrowed time,” Board President Mark Barhorst said, noting the board intended to research the options the district had concerning any potential Ohio Schools Facility Commission funding it may receive in the future.
During a March school board meeting, board members decided to defer any potential construction or renovation funding that might be offered through OSFC for 2009 in an effort to gain both community input and establish local funding.
The first option was to do nothing, Barhorst said. The second was to renovate the elementary and junior high building.
“If we renovate the building, we want to get a good 25 years use out of it,” he said. “We’re just trying to figure out what’s best.”
Barhorst noted the board had originally been told they would not receive any OSFC funding for renovating the elementary and junior high school. Eligibility for funding would hinge on whether the cost to build new rather than renovate was higher than the percentage allotted by OSFC.
“We were a little over that percent,” School Board Treasurer Deb Meyer told The Evening Leader, adding it was possible the district could appeal that decision and have the building reassessed.
Two options that would qualify the district for OSFC funding included adding on to the current high school building so it would be equipped for students in grades kindergarten through 12.
The district could also opt to add a junior high to the high school, and build a new elementary school for students in grades kindergarten through six, Meyer said.
“What they’re willing to fund, we would lose a lot of square footage,” Barhorst said of the OSFC.
Board members went into executive session to discuss personnel evaluation.No action was taken.
The next regularly scheduled New Bremen Board of Education meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 in the Community Room of the New Bremen High School.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 18 August 2008 )
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