OSFC Media Contact

Rick Savors
Director of Communications
(614) 466-7746
rick.savors@osfc.state.oh.us

2007 News Releases

4.3.07 - OSFC Awards Professional Design Services forOhio School for the Deaf and the Ohio State School for the Blind Facilities

Columbus, OH   - The Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) announced today that Steed Hammond Paul, Inc. has been selected to provide professional design services for a new campus for the Ohio School for the Deaf and the Ohio State School for the Blind in Columbus, Ohio.

The state appropriated funding for the schools to begin planning for a new complex to replace aging and inadequate facilities.  The plan will include space for classrooms, housing, food service areas, gymnasium, natatorium, athletic fields, administration spaces, outreach and support services.  OSFC is responsible for the administration of the project, in consultation with staff from the two schools.

An Ohio-based architectural firm, Steed Hammond Paul specializes in public institutional work. The firm has offices in Cincinnati, Hamilton and Columbus.

About OSFC

OSFC provides funding, management oversight, and technical assistance to local school districts for construction and renovation of school facilities in order to provide an appropriate learning environment for Ohio’s school children. Milestones include: $4.8 billion spent to date; 141 buildings under construction; 481 new/renovated buildings have opened; and 114 school districts fully completed.

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3.16.07 - Ohio School Facilities Commission Gives Local Districts Options to Adopt for Enhanced Contractor Responsiblity

Columbus, OH - At its meeting on February 15, 2007, the Ohio School Facilities Commission gave its approval to a resolution allowing a local board of education to adopt qualification criteria and standards to evaluate bidder responsibility. The resolution included model responsible bidder requirements that may be added to the construction contract documents if a local school board elects to incorporate them in the responsibility review process. This resolution applies to any future bidding opportunities. It cannot be applied retroactively to bids awarded or already published.

OSFC considers these new standards and criteria as additional tools that local districts may wish to implement to reflect the needs of their community.

Resolution

Model responsible bidder requirements

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2006 News Releases

July 19, 2006 - TAFT ANNOUNCES FUNDING IN THE WORKS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL FACILITIES IN 29 SCHOOL DISTRICTS

May 30, 2006 - GOVERNOR TAFT ANNOUNCES FUNDING IN THE WORKS FOR 11 MORE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL FACILITIES

March 23, 2006 - OSFC and OSU Engineering Dept. begin partnership in educational opportunities

TAFT ANNOUNCES FUNDING IN THE WORKS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL FACILITIES IN 29 SCHOOL DISTRICTS

CINCINNATI (July 19, 2006) - Governor Bob Taft today announced that 29 school districts have been approved for funding this year under the state's Rebuilding Ohio's Schools program. Taft made the announcement today at Mount Healthy High School, a Hamilton County school slated for replacement under the state's aggressive school building and renovation program.

"Good, modern and safe school buildings send a strong message to Ohio students that their community values their education and their education is important to their future success," said Taft. "I've been pleased to see first-hand how new buildings and classrooms equipped with the latest technology improve student and teacher morale, creating an excitement about learning and provide more opportunities for students to learn and achieve."

Twenty-nine school districts identified for reconstruction or renovation are being funded from the Ohio School Facilities Commission's (OSFC) Fiscal Year 2007 appropriation. Through OSFC, the state will provide the 29 districts with $759 million in state funds, or 69 percent of the $1.1 billion in total project costs. Priority for OSFC funding is based on either a district's relative property wealth, or on the basis of exceptional need criteria.

The Mount Healthy City School District received approval for $57,265,000 in state funding, which represents 70 percent of the total project costs for that district. The school district plans to consolidate its nine outdated facilities into three new state-of-the-art buildings and will ask for voter approval of their local share for this project this fall.

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GOVERNOR TAFT ANNOUNCES FUNDING IN THE WORKS FOR 11
MORE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL FACILITIES

COLUMBUS (May 30, 2006) - Governor Bob Taft announced today that 11 additional school districts have been identified for funding this year under the state's Rebuilding Ohio's Schools program.

"Since this program began nine years ago, we have opened or renovated 420 schools in 204 districts across the state," said Taft. "Rebuilding Ohio's Schools supports our mission to enable every child to succeed and will help ensure that our classrooms and school facilities are modern centers of learning. Combining our progress with clear academic standards and high expectations proposed through our Ohio Core plan will help Ohio prepare all students for work, college and life."

The funding, which will be administered by the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC), is part of Rebuilding Ohio's Schools, a historic $24 billion program designed to address the facility needs of every Ohio school district. The 11 districts announced today are in addition to 24 districts that accepted an offer of funding in March, bringing the total number of districts to receive funds from the OSFC's Fiscal Year 2007 appropriation to 35.

The OSFC and its staff are now working with representatives of the 35 school districts to finalize both the scope of work to be done in each district and the overall cost of that work.

The Process
Today's announcement represents the first step in the project funding process - OSFC's recommendation of districts for funding based on a district's relative property wealth or a district's demonstrated exceptional need.

In June, the local board will approve the district-wide facility plans developed jointly by OSFC and the district.

Following local approval, the OSFC will formally consider the facility plans and projected project budgets at its July 20th meeting, and the State Controlling Board will be asked for approval in August.

ADDITIONAL DISTRICTS IDENTIFIED FOR FUNDING
OSFC Fiscal Year 2007 Appropriations

Classroom Facilities Assistance Program
East Clinton Local (Clinton)
Fairlawn Local (Shelby)
Hubbard Ex Village (Trumbull)
Millcreek West Unity (Williams)
Mt. Gilead Ex Village (Morrow)
Niles City (Trumbull)
North Fork Local (Licking)
Preble-Shawnee Local (Preble)
Southern Local (Meigs)
Wauseon Ex Village (Fulton)

Vocational Facilities Assistance Program
Knox County JVS (Knox)

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March 23, 2006 (Columbus) - The Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) has announced plans to implement a new partnership that will provide opportunities for students at The Ohio State University to explore potential careers in architecture, engineering, planning and construction.

OSFC will hire two OSU students, one to serve as an intern at the agency, and the other to participate in a cooperative education position.

OSFC Executive Director Richard M. Hickman announced today that Tara Bonner, a mechanical engineering student, begins working with staff as a co-op student starting in late March for both the Spring and Summer Terms. Kevin Baird, a civil engineering student will work with OSFC during this summer as an intern starting in mid-June.

Cooperative education through OSU requires that students alternate full-time work with full-time school for a minimum of two work quarters. Internships on the other hand are one-period commitments of full-time work, typically during the summer, or part-time work integrated with their school schedule.

Hickman called the appointments a "great opportunity to further OSFC’s mission of provide funding, management oversight, and technical assistance to local school districts while giving the students valuable work experience toward their careers. We also view this as an excellent opportunity to attract talented people to the field of facilities construction. I welcome both students as contributing partners in fulfilling our historic mission."

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