Ottawa-Glandorf has taken another step to place a levy on the November ballot to build new Ottawa and Glandorf Elementary buildings.

On Tuesday evening, they approved a resolution of necessity to request a millage rate to raise $6 million dollars for the project. Last Thursday, July 28, the district received notice they had been approved by the Ohio School Facilities Commission to receive their share of state funding that will allow the school to do Phase II of the building project.

During a Monday meeting of Ottawa-area Kiwanis, Superintendent Kevin Brinkman, explained the major portion of the levy would not mean an increase in taxes for district residents.

Brinkman said the 2002 bond issue was structured to allow for a future bond issue without an increase in taxes for residents. Because of this, the new approximate 2.17 mill levy, although listed as new millage, will not mean additional taxes.

The only increase voters would see is the required ½ mill permanent improvement levy maintenance levy for the new structures that would cost approximately $1.28 per month for a $100,000 home.

The Ohio School Facilities Commission approved the school's master plan in 2001. This plan included the renovation and addition at the Ottawa-Glandorf High School for Phase I and new buildings for Ottawa Elementary and Glandorf Elementary for Phase II.

In 2002, Ottawa-Glandorf voters approved a levy to do the renovation and addition at Ottawa-Glandorf High School. The work for Phase I was completed in 2004.

"Because we are an expedited local partnership project, we are locked in for 51 percent local funding and 49 percent state funding for the entire project," Brinkman said.

During Monday's Kiwanis meeting Brinkman presented a conceptual view of where the new buildings would be located.

Glandorf Elementary would be located in an area behind where the existing building is located. The St.  John Parish will take the existing building in trade for land they will give the school district and use a portion of it for parish needs.

Ottawa Elementary would be located west of the YMCA on Putnam Parkway. Options under consideration for the existing building would be to tear all down except the gym and cafeteria and keep this for use by community groups.

The critical areas that have changed in the Master Plan are the size of the buildings and the increase cost of construction.  The increase cost of construction is being offset by smaller buildings.

Brinkman said the combined costs to upgrade and repair both buildings would be $4,421,341.00. This does not include eliminating the portable buildings, interior lightings, and security systems, emergency lighting and general finishes would push the figure above $6 million.

Brinkman gave several reasons why the Board has chosen not to pursue one building for both schools. He said the first reason the importance of maintaining credibility since the board's Master Plan in 2002 called for two buildings. The OSFC supports any building with a student population over 350 and they consider this size of building to be operationally efficient. 

"Our enrollment projections have the Ottawa building designed for 450 students and the Glandorf building for 500 students.," Brinkman said. This study was done by the state.

A community meeting will be held 7:30 p.m., Thursday, September 4, at the Ottawa-Glandorf auditorium, to explain the proposal and answer questions the public may have.