State deal helps schools

The Tipp City Exempted Village Schools Board of Education voted Wednesday to participate in a state school construction partnership program that board President Sam Spano said could be “a game changer” as far as the district using state money to help pay for new classrooms and related facilities.

The board was told district representatives were informed last week by Ohio School Facilities Construction Commission representatives that following an update of OSFCC’s project funding list, the district now is eligible to participate in the Expedited Local Partnership Program. As part of that program, the district would be eligible for 31 percent state funding for qualifying classrooms projects, the largest percentage the district has been told it could receive, said Superintendent Gretta Kumpf.

Spano said the district is far enough down the funding list it won’t qualify for dollars for four or five years. However, the eligibility could mean the district could look at building classrooms and then seek reimbursement from the state when its turn for funding arrives or do the first phase of a project funded locally and seek second phase funding when the money is available.

The district has been discussing options for building new elementary classrooms to replace those at the Nevin Coppock and Broadway buildings. Discussion has been held on seeking a bond issue as early as next year. Board member Theresa Dunaway, who was among district representatives meeting with OSFCC staff, said because the eligibility was just announced, the district has a lot of discussion and planning to do.

The board talked with district residents earlier this year about a plan to build the new elementary classrooms in one or two new buildings at the L.T. Ball intermediate School building.