Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

I?’m sure I?’m missing something here, but when we put a room addition onto our home, we met with the architect first, then the contractor with the architect. We were able to go over the plans in detail, talk about what things would cost and discuss how we could save money by using different options. After the plans were finalized, we went to the bank for a loan. We knew what it would cost ahead of time.

The way I?’m understanding how the school building process works, the administration gets the loan first, then talks to the architect and builder about what they can get for the money they have?… If the school has $100 to spend, the design comes up with a $100 option, even though and $80 design would have worked.

What is the reason the school building process is completely opposite of the residential building process? How can they say they need $55 million (or whatever the figure is) without having design plans worked out ahead of time? Aren't we as taxpayers be asked to give the school board a loan efore seeing the plans? Isn't this how the debacle at Pickerington North occured?

Can someone shed some light?

Thanks!

Shedding Some Light

I'm not an expert here, and certainly a member of the school board could do a better job of explaining the process, but here's how I understand it.

The process is not as backwards or unscientific as you described. The school board has/had an architect and Turner Construction work up the estimates (at no cost to the district). They use the OSFC (Ohio Schools Facility Commission) standards as a guide. For example, the OSFC stipulates minimum square footage per student to use in the calculation, and provides estimates (which I assume are pretty current) for all components of the building. The architect can add/change some things (like flooring material, for instance) and add the cost estimate for these. So, when they're done, the BOE is given a pretty good estimate of the total job. The BOE goes to the county auditor to get the millage required to cover whatever figure(s) they want to present to the voters. If passed, bonds are sold and construction begins. If actual bids come in less than the estimates, money is saved. Any interest money earned on the bonds can be used by the district, as well. I believe there are contraints as to what any savings and/or interest money can be spent on (i.e., perhaps not operating expenses, but perhaps capital improvements elsewhere).

Hope this answers your concerns that the process is somehow flawed. Again, contact the BOE if you have specific questions.

Thanks...

Thanks for the response (and education).

I?’m making the leap of thought then, that the excess(es) at Pickerington North were known about ahead of time and therefore planned for in the levy request.

Am I thinking right?

What are the excesses?

I see this line of thought every time a new school is built: ''Too much waste and things are too expensive. We have another Taj Mahal.''

I would like someone to identify what the ''excesses'' are at North. Are they the same ''excesses'' that were identified when Central was built?

I am curious as to what people mean when they say we have ''excesses'' when we build schools in Pickerington.