Olmsted Falls (March 28, 2008) – At its meeting on March 27, 2008 the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) approved funding for Olmsted Falls School District for construction and renovation projects to be completed through the District’s participation in the OSFC’s Exceptional Needs Program (ENP). OSFC will contribute $7,772,397, subject to approval by the State Controlling Board next month. This construction funding represents the largest single award of State funding the Olmsted Falls School District has ever received.
“We are thrilled to learn that our ENP application, submitted this past fall, has resulted in our being awarded this substantial amount of funding,” said Olmsted Falls Superintendent Dr. Todd Hoadley. “It is my responsibility to our taxpayers to explore alternative funding sources at every turn, and it is extremely gratifying to be able to bring these highly sought after dollars into our local community.”
New OSFC guidelines put in place in August 2007 allowed Olmsted Falls Schools to pursue this new State funding opportunity based upon the overcrowding dilemma currently being experienced throughout the District. Proceeds from the 2 mill bond issue passed by voters in May 2007 served as required matching funds for the new grant dollars that District officials were able to secure.
“We commend Dr. Hoadley and his administrative team for the outstanding job they did in bringing this funding of nearly 8 million dollars to the Olmsted Falls School District,” said Olmsted Falls Board of Education President James Weisbarth. “Their perseverance and outside-the-box thinking will give our taxpayers more bang for their buck and allow us to further address the overcrowding and space issues we experience throughout the District.”
Olmsted Falls School District was the first in the State to have local matching funds already in place. Traditionally, a school district applies for OSFC funding and, if approved, must then pass a bond issue to secure the local matching dollars. With the change in OSFC regulations falling on the heels of the District’s successful bond issue in May 2007, Olmsted Falls’ administrators seized upon the unique opportunity to pursue the ENP funds in a non-traditional manner.
“We are extremely grateful to OSFC Senior Planner Bill Prenosil and his team for their tremendous help and guidance during the ENP application process,” said Dr. Hoadley. “Seeking these new funds through a non-traditional process created numerous obstacles and challenges which OSFC representatives worked hard to help us overcome, and ultimately be successful in receiving this new funding.”
Funds from the Exceptional Needs Program will be added to funds generated through the May 2007 bond issue to build the new Olmsted Falls Intermediate School, as well as to allow the District to proceed with substantial additions and renovations at Olmsted Falls Middle School.
“We were absolutely thrilled to be able to maximize our community’s recent investment in our educational facilities with this additional funding from the State,” said Dr. Hoadley.
Passage of the bond issue in May 2007 originally generated $17 million, which the District will utilize to build a new intermediate school for grades 4 and 5. Housing grades 4 and 5 in the new building will create the opportunity for the reorganization of students in grades Pre-K to 3 between the existing Falls-Lenox and Fitch Schools, thereby allowing the District to address overcrowding at the Pre-K through 5th grade levels, where the most pressing issues exist. With this unprecedented new funding award, the District will now also be able to proceed with a 32,000 square foot addition to Olmsted Falls Middle School, which will include three new pods of classrooms plus additional expansion elsewhere in the existing Middle School building. The additional permanent classroom space will allow the District to remove the modular classrooms presently being used at the Middle School.
Site preparation for construction of the new intermediate school is already underway with an aggressive goal of opening the new Olmsted Falls Intermediate School by Fall 2009. The District expects to receive the new State funding sometime in April, and plans to enter the design and development phase on the Middle School additions and renovations immediately upon receipt of those funds.
“Demonstrating fiscal resourcefulness to our taxpayers continues to be a top priority for my administration,” said Dr. Hoadley. “Obtaining this new funding allows us to move forward to address overcrowding issues which have plagued our District for nearly a decade.”
The Olmsted Falls School District still faces overcrowding issues at the High School and additional renovation is necessary at Fitch School as well.
“While the District is incredibly grateful to receive these State dollars to be used at the Middle School, we have plans to continue collaboration with the OSFC to explore the possibility of additional funding through the ENP or other similar State programs,” said Dr. Hoadley.
For additional information or questions, residents are encouraged to visit www.ofcs.k12.oh.us or contact the Board of Education office at (440) 427-6000.
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