IT’S OUR TURN TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE
O-G Schools Awarded $19,728,272 from the State for Phase II of Building Master Plan

Kevin Brinkman, Superintendent

The Ottawa-Glandorf Local School District has been presented the opportunity from the Ohio School Facilities Commission to complete a plan started in 2002 for school building improvements and construction. Recently, the O-G School Board has taken the necessary steps to secure approximately 20 million dollars from the State to construct two new elementary schools for the students of Ottawa and Glandorf. During the month of May, the OSFC (Ohio School Facility Commission) updated our total project cost to reflect $40,261,780. This figure includes the already completed High School project and the cost to construct two new elementary buildings. Prior to any money being released from the State, the O-G District must first obtain our local share of 51% of the total project.

Our main focus has now shifted to securing the local share. Since we have "locked into" the local share of 51% and the State share of 49% we have recently determined the dollar amount remaining to meet our local share. We have already been credited $11.3 million for the renovation and addition to the High School. This project was completed under budget by 2 million dollars. This 2 million dollars (plus interest) will be applied to our local share amount, as promised at the High School rededication celebration on January 23, 2005. Also, when the Philips Plant closed its doors, an agreement was worked out with the O-G Schools that they would reimburse the school over 1 million dollars in unpaid taxes, based on Philips’ inability to meet the requirements of the tax abatement. This money was placed in an account with the intention of helping offset the local share of the OSFC project. Utilizing those three funding sources, the remaining amount, $5,943,046, is all we need to meet our local share and receive $20 million from the State to build two new elementary schools. The chart below visually explains the funding resources.

1 = High School Expansion ($11,344,462 - 4.98 Bond Issue)

2 = Construction Fund ($2,300,000)

3 = Philips ($1,200,000)

4 = Two New Elementary Schools ($5,943,046) ($5,689,046 + Locally Funded Spaces $254,000)

5 = State Share ($19,728,272)

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