LPEVS Responds to Bond Issue Results, Outlines Next Steps

As the Loudonville-Perrysville Board of Education prepares to decide on how to proceed with the district’s Master Facilities Plan, the district is working to adjust the plan to address community feedback while meeting the educational needs of students.

“The need to address facilities still remains,” stated Loudonville-Perrysville Superintendent Jennifer Allerding. “We are in a situation where significant facility concerns exist. The cost to address these issues is far greater than what we have available in current local, state and federal funds.”

Superintendent Allerding and district leaders are continuing to work with financial consultants, architectural firm Garmann Miller, and the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) to develop a plan that addresses the community's top concerns. This includes exploring alternative means of funding and reducing the overall project costs while still addressing students' safety and educational needs.

“With the OFCC, we have 18 months to secure funding for the facilities plan,” stated Allerding. “If we are unable to secure the funding in that timeframe, we will lose our position and need to reengage with them. This could impact the percentage of state funding we are offered.”

When the district first engaged with the OFCC in 2004, 50% funding of the project cost was offered. Currently, the OFCC has offered funding for 29% of the project cost.

Working with the OFCC requires certain building design elements for enhanced safety; however, these components do not greatly impact the cost of the project.

“The enhanced safety features that are required when building with the OFCC do not exceed 10% of the project cost,” noted Allerding. “Taxpayers would not see a cost-saving on the facilities plan by eliminating OFCC funding.”

Over the last year and a half, the district has taken steps to reduce operating costs, including eliminating six positions and continuing to review and assess staffing needs when retirements and resignations take place.

“Because of the recent property tax update, we have also been able to set aside an additional $970,000 into a fund specifically earmarked for construction purposes that cannot be used for salaries or benefits,” remarked Allerding. “We hope to continue to do this annually when the budget allows.”

The district continues to address necessary repairs to maintain its current facilities. Most recently, these repairs include replacing a sewer line at McMullen Elementary over Thanksgiving break, which resolved a sewage leak. Similar issues at Budd School are scheduled to be addressed over the winter holiday, and masonry repairs at Budd are planned for spring.

“I am so grateful for our maintenance and custodial team,” remarked Allerding. “They continue to go above and beyond for our students and staff to maintain our buildings, but, as our buildings age, the issues that need to be addressed continue to grow in frequency and cost.”

The Loudonville-Perrysville Board of Education will decide on the next steps of the Master Facilities Plan in the coming weeks.

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