If you are new to our blog, please read all of the news releases and check back each Wednesday for a new release!
Let’s Build It, The Future is Our Kids – A Community’s Investment
The residents of the Greenville City School District will be presented with the opportunity to make an investment in the future of this community very soon. A vote in favor of the bond issue found on the November 8th ballot will, along with the State of Ohio’s funding share, generate the revenue necessary to build a new K-8th grade facility and renovate the existing High School. An environmentally friendly (LEED Certified) and efficient building utilizing the benefits of ‘green’ technologies with up-to-date security features, total handicap accessibility, and 21st Century academic learning spaces is much needed.
Life-long educators, Ed and Becky Peltz, believe in the future value a good school system and its facilities have for children. “Let's continue to build a better tomorrow for our children and grandchildren. Let's invest in a new school and build a better future for our community. Vote yes on November 8 for Greenville City Schools,” said Peltz.
Susan Kaiser has two children who have graduated from Greenville and one who is currently a student in the system. She writes, “Greenville students and staff are committed to making our schools something we can be proud of, and I am proud of them! Our school district recently earned an “Excellent” rating from the Ohio Department of Education for the 2010-11 school years – a first! This is a considerable accomplishment. It’s now time for us to show our commitment by supporting the Greenville School Levy. The passage of the issue on the November 8th ballot will allow the construction of a new K-8 facility and renovation of the high school, improving the educational and environmental conditions that our students greatly need. I encourage each of you to take a few minutes on November 8th to help Greenville take that step toward a better investment…better school facilities…and better opportunities for our children. Everyone will benefit by a prosperous community; the kind of community we can be proud of, and one that our children can grow in. Our kids deserve the best, and our community deserves the best.”
Biography Banquet – South School
Citizens for Quality Greenville Schools
Press Release No. 6
For Release October 19. 2001
By Mark Saluk, Darke Economic Development Director
I’m often asked my opinion about the correlation between new school buildings and economic development because of my job. But, despite the title, I am no expert on the matter. Near as I can tell, no one is. It’s a tough correlation to make statistically because there are a large number of factors that define both quality schools and economic development.
However, that doesn’t mean that economic development directors don’t get a good insight into the matter. Why is this? Because it’s our job to speak regularly to those that run the nations’ industries. While it may not breakdown neatly into statistical formula, direct feedback from decision makers is an excellent indicator about an issue.
Based on this, I can definitively state that school buildings DO matter. At least in the minds’ of some very key people-- those that create jobs.
I know they matter because I speak all the time to plant managers’ who decided NOT to reside in Greenville because of the older school facilities. Why do so, they say, when virtually every other district in the region has a modern facility, equipped with the technology it now takes to prepare students for the world?
I know they matter because of the number of executives who have told me their spouse’s were not impressed by their initial drive-by of the district’s buildings. I know this because of the number of plant managers’ that tell me it’s tough to recruit young professionals because they are turned-off by the district’s older facilities.
These are not my opinions. These are the opinions of many who view the school district from the outside and make decisions that affect local employment. Agree with them or don’t. At the end of the day, their opinions do impact our community in a very real way.
If I had to guess, I would say their opinions are based on more than the buildings themselves. Speaking with them also seems to indicate that the lack of new buildings also speaks to the community’s pride. Again, this may be unfair but…well, you know what our parents always told us that life was…
What’s MY opinion? I’ll do something unusual here and quote myself because I think I summed up my thoughts pretty well in an article written by The Advocate several months ago. At the risk of being a bit self-indulgent, here I go…quoting me:
“It’s hard to directly and definitively correlate jobs and school buildings. However, there is little question about two things: job retention and growth is tied in part to local education and work force quality. And, the quality of that local education and work force is, in these days of increased technology in the classroom, tied in part to the existence of modern facilities for a school district.”
New resources for our children AND a better prospect of a good job for them in the future? To me, the combination makes a new school facility a tough thing to vote against this November.
Many people have asked a lot of questions about the new school. We tried to answer all of them as best we could when they were asked but a couple took some research and/ number crunching but we have some new info now that should help answer those questions. Our Superintendent, Susie Reigle has met with the City of Greenville as well as the architects about the project recently and in particular about the concerns about the sidewalks, turn lanes, etc.
INFRASTRUCTURE
She issued this statement this morning on that: "The City of Greenville is working closely with Greenville City Schools and Garmann-Miller (architects for the proposed OSFC project) to determine the need for sidewalks and roadway alterations pending approval of the bond issue for the construction of a new K-8 facility on North Ohio Street. In a recent meeting, it was clarified by the architects that sidewalks and turn lanes are already included in the project costs that would be located on the school property. The results of a traffic impact study will determine the need for additional sidewalks off the school property." -Susie Riegle, Superintendent, Greenville City School District.
OPERATIONAL COSTS
The other question that has been asked deals with the operational cost of the new building versus the current buildings. At the present time we pay for operational costs of East, South, Woodland Heights, Jr. High, Sr. High, Career Tech Center, Memorial Hall and the High School.
The total square footage that we now operate is 392,652.
The Original Cost to Operate All Buildings = $545,102.44.
Elimination of Woodland, East, South and the Jr. High brings the total existing square footage down to 173,615 sq. ft.
Memorial Hall right now with 45,000 sq. ft. costs $1.59 per sq ft to operate.
Greenville High School right now with 142,689 sq. ft. costs $1.25 per sq ft to operate.
Career Tech Center right now with 31,348 sq. ft. costs $.63 per sq ft to operate.
These figures show the difference in the age of the buildings and the construction techniques. The Career Tech building is the newest and cost the least to operate.
The proposed K-8 building with 254,778 sq. feet is projected to cost $1.00 per square foot to operate.
The operational cost savings over a five year period will be around $105,000. That is just an estimate. Many things in the new building can be.
Press Release No. 4
Citizens for Quality Greenville Schools
For Release on September 21, 2011
Strength of District Curriculum
Greenville Schools offers its students rigorous academic programming. As a result, the district earned an Excellent rating from the Ohio Department of Education for the 2010-11 school years. The hard work of students and staff has resulted in many success stories. The Greenville High School AP Calculus students earned outstanding scores on the AP test they took in May. With the instruction and guidance of GHS Math teacher, Mr. Bob Batty, 33 of 38 students who took the AP Calculus test passed, for an 87.9% passage rate. This is the most students we have had attempt the AP Calculus test in several years and our GHS students more than exceeded the national average passage rate. Five is the highest score a student can earn on the test, and 39.4% of our students earned a 5, with the national average being 21% of students earning a 5. One third of our students earned a 4 on the test, with the national average being 16.4%. A passing score of 3 or higher can equate to college credit (usually 4 to 8 credit hours).
Next, the Greenville High School Computer Information Systems (CIS) program continues to provide compelling learning opportunities to students this school year. While providing computer technical support in our schools is part of the CIS program, our district provides four unique paid internships to four CIS students under the direction and supervision of CIS teachers, Mr. Nathan Sharp and Mr. Robert Warner. All CIS students have the opportunity to apply for an internship position, and following a thorough interview process conducted by Mr. Jon McGreevey, our district hired these students to perform computer technical work throughout the district for up to 10 hours per week. These tech interns have set up computer labs, formatted computers, installed software, and installed new network cables just to name a few jobs. They were also able to take part in SmartBoard training with staff members before school started. Since then, they have been able to go to the classrooms and help teachers with the new SmartBoard technology that was installed in the Middle and Junior High Schools. During the first teacher workday, a student intern was on hand at each of the buildings to provide another level of support for any staff member experiencing technology problems. This real-world/hands-on experience was unique enough to get the attention of the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) as the CIS student internship program has been selected to participate in the 2011 Student Achievement Fair at the OSBA annual conference in November.
In addition to the CIS student internship program, students from our Greenville High School Engineering program also received the honor of being selected to participate in the Student Achievement Fair at the Ohio School Board Association annual conference in Columbus. They will present their Gravitational Water Vortex Engineering project. The GWVPP (Gravitational Water Vortex Power Plant) is a horizontal cousin of the hydroelectric dam. The benefits of using an artificially induced vortex above gravity- accelerated water both increase efficiency, decrease cost, and not only lower the negative impact on the environment, but actually increase the sustainability and health of the river as a whole. The ingenious invention was designed and developed by Franz Zotlöterer, an Austrian engineer, who saw the advantage of using this natural process.
For the Engineering 12 class at Greenville High School, President Parker Cameron and teammates, Austin Lowder and Sam Jones, have chosen this topic as their capstone project. With instructor, Christopher Sykes, these students will prepare a written report, portfolio, a functioning model, time records, and a presentation to be used for various events. What makes this project different from previous projects is its ability to go further than the class itself. A potential goal for the student’s project is to inspire the state of Ohio, with many others following, to actually construct this potential alternative energy source.
These students and instructors represent only a few of the outstanding programs that exist in Greenville Schools. The goal of preparing our young people with viable 21st century tools for success is an academic programming priority that is being achieved.
Press Release No. 3
Citizens for Quality Greenville Schools
For Release on September 14, 2011
On August 26th, the Board of Education resolved to eliminate the present Permanent Improvement Levy (PI) of 2.0 mills. This was done to help offset the taxes that would be created by the Bond Issue on the November 8th ballot. The PI Levy has been in place since 1989 and has been used for major improvements on Greenville’s existing buildings. Board Members, both past and present have desired to minimize the tax burden on those in the district while still attempting to construct a new Kindergarten through Eighth grade building.
This present PI levy can be eliminated because of its age and the lack of need due to replacement of 80% of the district’s educational structures. The refurbishment and replacement is intended to eliminate many present costs and bring the buildings up to twenty-first century code.
The current plan was formulated by the committee whose task was to determine the best long range building plan for the school district. In order to fund this plan, the architectural firm of Garmann/Miller was given the task to plan and design, with the approval of the Ohio School Facility Commission, a project which would serve the district in a more effective and efficient manner than the four present buildings. Their plan proposes a building requiring a bond issue of 45 million dollars which will not only provide the Kindergarten through Eighth grade building, but will include renovation dollars to the district for updating the present high school campus.
The Permanent Improvement Levy, a 2 mill levy has been held at the same dollar collection since 1989. Therefore, looking in terms of constant dollars, the levy currently costs the home owner around 1 mill on their tax duplicate each year. This will reduce the cost of the bond issue by a total amount of $ 32 for the homeowner with an average appraisal of $100,000 dollars. This is very close to the average appraisal for a home in the district.
While there is recognition of the economic times for those in the district, there is a limited opportunity to receive $ 18 million from the state to offset construction costs. That return of funds from the State, which may not be possible in future years due to the financial condition of Ohio, along with abnormally low interest rates, gives an opportunity which may not be seen in the near future.
Press Release No. 2
Citizens for Quality Greenville Schools
For Release September 7, 2011
"Everyone Will Benefit”
Greenville School’s proposed building plans include provisions impacting the entire student population in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade. The passage of the issue on the November 8th ballot will provide the funding needed to construct a new K-8 facility and renovate Greenville High School. This facility plan will enable the district to house students in two locations rather than the existing five sites.
Students and teachers in both buildings will benefit from the facility update. Educational and environmental conditions will be improved for students in grades K-8 as they move from the older, restrictive facilities of the Junior High (1924), South (1911), East (1950), and Woodland (1956) to a new K-8 building. Up-to-date technology, science labs, and flexible learning spaces will be available in the fully furnished building enabling more than ever before the sharing of resources. Much needed, will be the independent accessibility the district’s handicapped population will have to all areas of the school. The High School students and teachers will experience the benefits of the facility upgrade as well. Plans include in part refurbished science labs, increased technology capabilities, HVAC, new windows, expanded cafeteria size, and other interior/exterior refining.
Providing a safe and secure environment for our students is a priority. Security features not available due to the restrictive nature of the older buildings will be included in both the K-8 and High School facilities. Additionally, students with health issues will be provided with a cleaner, climate-controlled environment for learning with the addition of new HVAC systems.
For more information on the Greenville Schools Bond Issue or if you have questions please call the Greenville Schools office at 548-3185 or visit the information website at Lets Build it Greenville
Next Week: “Elimination of the Permanent Improvement Levy”
Press Release No. 1
Citizens for Quality Greenville Schools
For Release on August 31, 2011
For quite a while people have been talking about the possibility of Greenville Schools constructing a new building. The project has gone through many stages and is at the point that everyone needs to look at the project and get an idea of what has been done to get to this point. In January a group of people from every precinct in the district was invited to be part of a committee that would look at all of the proposals. From January to May they met each month, visited your schools and also some new schools in the area to see what has been done in other districts. The end result was the project described below.
The Project
- A new, fully furnished facility for grades k-8 and renovations to the existing High School. . - An environmentally friendly and efficient building utilizing the benefits of "green" technology - A building in which security features provide a safe environment for students and staff. - New classrooms providing up-to-date technology, science labs, and flexible learning spaces to enhance the instructional environment. - A building providing the space and accessibility to meet the needs of our physically challenged population. - Renovations to the existing high school to create efficiencies of operation and enhanced educational opportunities. · The Rationale:
- .The Ohio Schools Facilities Commission (OSFC) advised the district that aging buildings would cost more to renovate than to replace and OSFC would provide co-funding accordingly.
- The consolidation of Woodland, East, South, and the Junior High would allow operational cost reductions contrasting the current building configuration.
- The State's financial commitment to GSD's for the project is $18,192,750.
- Interest rates are at an all-time low.
- It is much more cost efficient to run one new building than four old buildings.
The Cost for Taxpayer:
- 6.43 Mills for 28 years and 1/4% School District Income Tax
- With the elimination of a 2 mil permanent improvement levy enacted in 1989
- $ 100,000 home = $173 annually (taxpayer 64 years old and less living in home)
- $ 100,000 home = $144 annually (taxpayer 65 years or older living in home)
- $ 25,000 income = $63.00 annually ($50 Senior Credit)
For information on figuring your tax burden go here: www.darkecountyrealestate.org/TaxEstimator/
