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Crestview seeks feedback on building needs

LISBON — With the possibility of renovating school buildings, expanding space and a possible community center addition, Crestview’s board of education held a public meeting Thursday to get some feedback from members of the community.

At the board meeting earlier this month, the board purchased two modulars from the Talawanda school district on the other side of the state in an effort to have more classroom space next school year. But that is only a temporary solution, according to Superintendent Matthew Manley.

The modulars may be used next year for “specials,” which are classes such as music or art where students only go for a short period of time once a week. The bathrooms in the modulars may not be hooked into an actual septic system, more of a temporary holding system which can be pumped out.

In the meantime, the modulars will allow for more space to be opened up for preschool. Manley said 50 to 60 children are currently being turned away who want preschool and the lines on signup day have started forming hours before the registration begins. The hope is this plan will give more children in the district a chance to better prepare for kindergarten.

Manley said Talawanda was the only owner of those modulars, which were new in 2003 and the district was using until they were able to move into new space during Christmas break. The modulars will have security cameras and intruder locks on the doors.

Manley also pointed out currently at Crestview there are $1.6 million in physical repairs and projects, but only $230,000 in the permanent improvement plan each year. Currently

on the list is $355,000 in repairs to the flat roof portion of one of the buildings and a track that if it does not get resurfaced soon will deteriorate beyond repair.

“How do we continue to stay strong,” Manley said about the potential projects and need for space now and in the future. “(Former superintendent) Mr. (John) Dilling and the board always had a forward vision.”

Treasurer Charlene Mecure said the important thing for the community to know is that right now there is no plan. Current school officials are looking for the guidance from the community about where the district is headed in the future.

One of the things being looked at is possible improvements to the school’s buildings utilizing dollars available through the Ohio Schools Facility Commission. Manley said the school would qualify for 88 cents in OSFC money for every dollar of the project’s costs. However, there are guidelines for how that money can be spent and one of the next steps is having OSFC come and look at some of the areas where they see projects needed in the district.

While OSFC money cannot be used for some things, the district is also looking at the construction of a community center. The facility, which could be built not with educational dollars, could be built with the help of partnership money with other local health care, recreational and educational places. For instance it was noted the community center in Wadsworth had partners through the YMCA and Summa Health System. That facility has a physician, physical therapy, swimming pools, a senior center, city library and houses the local access cable TV station. Students and the community all have access to the facility. There are several other similar facilities mentioned in the state.

“The community center school concept is new,” Manley said, “but just to us.”

Through questions and answers it was learned the facility could be run through a shared utilization agreement with the partners, which would pay contractually with the school for use of space.

Terry McCoy, an architect who was in charge of several projects in the past at Crestview before he retired from Strollo Architects, talked positively about the ideas he was hearing. He said there is great potential for the project and working with partners such as the local hospitals, adult day care facilities, the YMCA and others.

However, others at the meeting urged the school officials to look cautiously at the project, which will inevitably draw more students to the district.

“I think we need to take a long look ahead,” said Wayne Wolfgang, a former board member. “How big do we want this school district to get?”

Currently, Crestview has about a third of its enrollment coming from other districts through open enrollment. Each of those students brings state money with them from the school district they left. However, Manley said that there are discussions about how that can help when they fill seats in partially full classrooms, but cause a problem when it causes the district to need to hire additional staff because the classrooms become overfilled.

Manley said the ideal range for number of students at Crestview would be about 1,300 to 1,400.

According to the Ohio Department of Education, Crestview had 1,277 students in October 2016, basically the beginning of this school year.

However, people at the meeting also talked about the possibility of Fairfield Township changing the four-acre rule, which keeps tracts of land for homes larger than in other places. If that number is reduced or eliminated, some believe more people may build housing developments in the Crestview district. At that point, Crestview may grow on its own without as many open enrollment students.

When asked about the needs for the district, one man in the audience noted it is most important to provide educational services to the students who live in the Crestview school district. Another woman said there needs to be more spaces for students requiring therapies who currently receive that help in “closets.” Others talked about the need to prepare students better for jobs in a technical, digital world and not just to teach to pass tests.

Then two success stories were shared by those in the district, who know children who have been successful in such fields because of their training through Crestview.

Bennett A. Fierman, a strategic planner with Risinger and Associates, the company helping Crestview look at its options for the possible projects also gave some success stories about the Wadsworth Community Center, another project he was involved with building.

Fierman said before the project there was no YMCA in that community and they projected 3,600 members, but as of now there are already 10,800 members.

Additionally, a local senior center had 300 members. The new one has 3,000. Summa Health Care closed a hospital facility down the street, but still provides medical care for area residents utilizing the community center.

Fierman also talked about the interaction with students dressing up and hosting a senior prom for the senior citizens in that facility, giving them the opportunity to have a dance with their friends. Students with handicaps are receiving training in food service by working in a cafe at the community center.

Crestview board member Brayden Tucker pointed out his wife works in law enforcement and with the number of heroin overdoses happening throughout the area, including in the Crestview district, Tucker noted having students mentored and loved by senior citizens is more important than ever.

djohnson@mojonews.com

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