Ironton school leaders expected to meet with the Ohio School Facilities Commission today about the district’s construction plan, but will wait now on that agency’s review of architects’ revisions.

Thursday, April 26, 2001

Ironton school leaders expected to meet with the Ohio School Facilities Commission today about the district’s construction plan, but will wait now on that agency’s review of architects’ revisions.

Architects Fanning/Howey Associates Inc. looked at the state’s assessment of Ironton’s needs and determined the numbers were not accurate, superintendent Steve Kingery said.

Fanning/Howey felt fire alarms, a water supply system at Ironton Middle and a number of other general items would require more funding that the state allotted, so they have requested revisions, Kingery said.

"They (OSFC) are taking that into consideration before we sign off on the master plan," he said.

Once the OSFC reviews the architects’ changes, Ironton School Board members must hold a special meeting on the plan revision. Kingery expects that meeting about the first week of May. Afterward, both Ironton and the OSFC can sign off on the master plan.

That plan, however, will be Master Plan B – one of three discussed recently among the district’s community committee members.

In the general terms, the plan is: Renovate the high school, 148,000 square feet; renovate the middle school, 55,706 square feet; build a new elementary school, 59,097 square feet; DO NOT demolish current three elementary buildings; $24.7 million in state funding; Ironton’s share is $6.17 million.

The committee recommended school board members adopt the plan, which they did at Monday’s regular meeting.

Once the plan goes before the OSFC’s governing board, the final funding process will start, Kingery said.

Ironton is on the construction funding list, although the state will not give a definite answer on whether funds will appear this year. The state typically waits until the legislature finishes with the budget process, usually by June.

Meanwhile, architects and school officials are preparing for designing the project and running a levy for the district’s small share of the cost.

The construction plan will be community driven, architects said.