Plans for Butler County’s newest elementary at ‘critical crossroads’

Talawanda Schools is turning its attention to the district’s fourth major construction project — Marshall Elementary.

District leaders hope to tackle building a new Marshall Elementary within the next three years with an eye toward opening in August 2020.

A crucial date looms, however, to achieving that with the Oct. 26 meeting of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission when it will be decided nine Ohio districts receive state funding for their pending projects.

“Things seem to be lining up in our favor,” said Talawanda Treasurer and CFO Mike Davis, who advises cautious optimism with regard to that meeting. “Oct. 26 is a critical crossroads.”

Davis said the greatest source of optimism for Talawanda is that its plan will not require passage of a bond issue by voters.

“We are able to fund our local share with no new taxes,” he said. “This is a huge move forward for the district and for the students at Marshall.”

Also working in the district’s favor is the amount of money involved, Davis said. Talawanda received a large portion of its state reimbursement funding to build the new Kramer Elementary and the remainder to be allotted to Marshall is approximately $3 million.

The OFCC vote on Oct. 26 is not the final word. It will then go to the State Controlling Board for their Dec. 4 meeting.

The plan for Marshall is to maintain the gymnasium portion of the building which is the newest part and already air conditioned. The new part would be designed around that.

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