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New high school project in Middletown estimated to cost $80M

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By Steven Matthews, Staff Writer 9:54 PM Thursday, February 2, 2012

MIDDLETOWN — The cost to complete Phase II of Middletown City School District’s original 2003 Master Plan could about be $80 million.

Half of that would be generated locally, while the other half would be provided by the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission. The OSFC’s contribution, though, may be several years down the road.

The entire project was projected in 2003 to cost $152 million, with the local share 74 percent and the state’s share 26 percent.

Phase I — which called for six new elementary schools and two renovated elementary schools — was completed about a year ago and cost $71 million, which was all generated locally.

Phase II centers around renovating the current high school and converting it into a middle school, and also building a new high school.

“If we don’t finish Phase II, we don’t get that money. That’s the selling point,” Superintendent Greg Rasmussen said. “(The OSFC) owes us quite a bit of money, and the community deserves that.”

How much money and where it would come from dominated much of Thursday night’s discussion at the first facilities improvement committee meeting. About 20 people — all over the age of 45 — attended, including district employees, retired teachers, business representatives and parents with children in the district.

“Being in the high school every day, you can definitely see the constraints and challenges for the children and staff,” Middletown High School Principal Carmela Cotter said. “I love the idea of so many people coming together to make the community better.”

The committee plans to meet every two weeks, with a recommendation expected to be made to the school board at the end of May. Two community forums will be scheduled at the end of February and the beginning of March.

“This isn’t a bond campaign committee,” said Joe DeLuca, client liaison for the architectural firm Fanning Howey Inc. “If that happens, that’d be years down the road. We really want your opinions and input on planning and selecting a viable option to the district.

“I have a strong belief that as the school district goes, so does the community, and vice versa,” he added. “All of you, one way or another, have a stake in the school district. All of your connections are very important.”

The next meeting is at 6 p.m. Feb. 15 at the high school’s media center. A tour of the high school begins at 5 p.m.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113 or steven.matthews@coxinc.com.

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