Ohio School Facilities Commission

The Ohio School Facilities Commission typically meets monthly to discuss the activities of the agency as well as approve trade contracts, project agreements and other matters related to the day-to-day business of the OSFC. The monthly report highlights topics addressed at that month’s Commission meeting.

The Ohio School Facilities Commission is comprised of three voting members and four non-voting members from the state legislature. The three voting members are the Director of the Office of Budget and Management, the Director of the Department of Administrative Services, and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The four legislative members include two members from the Ohio Senate and two members from the House of Representatives.

.Former four-term Oregon City Councilman, Rep. Matt Szollosi (House District 49 – Oregon), has also been appointed as a member of the Commission. A 1997 graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law, Rep. Szollosi is a Partner with Cosme, D' Angelo & Szollosi Co., LPA in Toledo, where he practices labor and construction law. As the District 49 Representative, he has pledged to support efforts related to job creation, growth and retention. He also pledges to promote energy efficient construction within Ohio.

At its February 15th meeting, the Ohio School Facilities Commission appointed Michael C. Shoemaker as Executive Director, effective February 21, 2007. Mr. Shoemaker has experience in the residential construction industry and was a teacher for more than 10 years. He also has 20 years experience in the Ohio General Assembly, serving both in the House and the Senate. While in the House, he sponsored H.B. 264 of the 116th General Assembly, which created the Energy Conservation (or HB 264) program. This popular program allows school districts with older facilities to borrow funds without a ballot issue to make energy-saving facilities improvements. While in the legislature, Mr. Shoemaker was a non-voting member of the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

In other business, J. Pari Sabety, Director of the Office of Budget and Management (OBM) was elected Chair of the Commission. Hugh Quill, Director of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), was selected to serve as Vice Chair.

Responsible Bidder Criteria Option Outlined

Also at its February 15, 2007 meeting, the Commission approved a resolution that allows school districts participating in OSFC programs to establish additional qualification criteria and standards to evaluate bidder responsibility. With this action, local districts have an option to include responsible bidder requirements in construction contract documents. These will supplement the Commission’s standard contract provisions. The responsible bidder criteria are available on the OSFC website http://www.osfc.state.oh.us/construction/index.html

Executive Director Mike Shoemaker and OBM Director (and Commission Chair) Pari Sabety presented an overview at the March 22, 2007 Commission meeting of Governor Strickland’s initiative to accelerate school facilities funding. They highlighted the current funding sources, the projected impact of the securitization proposal on the construction program over the next three years, and the long-term commitment to serve the facilities needs of every Ohio school district.

Current Funding
Currently OSFC is funded through three funding streams: cash, GRF-backed general obligation debt, and tobacco master settlement agreement (MSA) proceeds received annually by the state. In the fiscal year 2007-2008 capital biennium, cash contributed 12% of total appropriations, debt backed 56% of total appropriations, and tobacco MSA proceeds contributed 32% of total appropriations. Under Chapter 183.02 of the Revised Code, OSFC would receive $3.24 billion in tobacco MSA revenues in fiscal years 2008-2025, based on the original National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) estimates. The present value of the fiscal year 2008-2025 distribution outlined in ORC 182.03 is approximately $2.2 billion.

Tobacco Securitization to Accelerate Facilities Program
The combined value of OSFC’s outstanding tobacco distributions ($2.2 billion) plus outstanding bonded debt funding for the next three fiscal years ($1.92 billion) is $4.12 billion. This amount would be paid in one lump sum in FY 2008 from tobacco revenue securitization proceeds.

The effect of funding OSFC with a lump sum of cash in fiscal year 2008 is an acceleration of the program. Rather than offering funding to approximately 75 to 90 districts over the next three fiscal years, OSFC may be able to offer funding to 110 to 120 districts over a three year period.

School district eligibility to participate is based on their ranking on the Ohio Department of Education’s eligibility ranking list. State funding for facilities is offered to low wealth districts first and OSFC works up the list. The infusion of tobacco revenues will allow OSFC to speed up the school construction program.

As Director Sabety explained, an additional benefit of providing OSFC with a lump payment of tobacco securitization funds is to relieve debt capacity issues. Ohio may only carry GRF-backed debt equaling five percent of the prior fiscal year’s GRF receipts plus net lottery proceeds. Following the original 12-year plan, the next capital biennium’s general obligation debt portion of OSFC funding would be over $1.5 billion. While the state could authorize this amount of debt to be issued and remain under the constitutional debt cap, there would be little capacity remaining to address the state’s other capital needs at universities, prisons, other state agencies and institutions, and in local infrastructure.

Future Funding Necessary
After tobacco securitization funds are committed to OSFC and expended over the next three fiscal years, in fiscal year 2011 the Governor’s plan would return to appropriating cash and GRF-backed general obligation debt to finance the remaining school districts.

Next Commission Meeting
April 26, 2007 at 1:30 in the William McKinley Room at the Ohio Statehouse

OSFC hosted the 2006 Urban School Construction Summit on November 17, 2006 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. More than 100 people representing school districts from Columbus, Toledo, Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Dayton attended the conference to gain insight on issues unique to the urban environment.

Introduced by OSFC Chairman Tim Keen, Governor Bob Taft opened the conference with accolades to the Commission for its past success and its flexibility in dealing with issues as they have arisen. He commended OSFC on having an objective funding process that was equitable and flexible to each school district’s needs. Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, Superintendent of Public Instruction, gave historical perspective and insight on the condition of Ohio’s schools. A panel discussion featuring Debra Braithwaite, Craig Cotner, Jan Kilbride and Mary Ey, the academic officers from the Dayton, Cleveland, Toledo and Columbus Public Schools, respectively, focused on the topic of facilities impact on accommodating educational programming needs.

The highlight of the half-day conference was keynote speaker Jim McConnell, P.E., former Chief Facilities Executive of the Los Angeles Unified school district and current President of SGI Construction Management. Mr. McConnell led the reconstruction of the second largest school district in the country, which at the time included 12,000 buildings on 900 campuses across 704 square miles. Conference participants enjoyed Mr. McConnell’s uplifting message facing the challenging mission of rebuilding an urban district and bringing the community together.

OSFC has participated in 96 groundbreakings and dedications this year for Pre-K through 12 and career technical schools. Project Administrators and other key staff attend these events to offer support and answer any questions.

The U.S. Green Building Council recently recognized two OFSC planning directors, Franklin Brown and Bill Prenosil, as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professionals (LEED AP). LEED is the nationally accepted standard for all phases of “green” construction from planning to post construction. Through their designation as LEED AP’s, Mr. Brown and Mr. Prenosil have a knowledge base of environmentally conscious design that is invaluable to the Commission.

Each year OSFC staff identify districts with the highest potential for funding during the next two fiscal years. During September and October, one of four teams representing a cross section of agency staff visited 26 of those districts to discuss the components of good planning and answer questions about the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program or the Joint Vocational Assistance Program.

While the visits do not signal that funding will be offered the teams presented information that will be important to preparing districts should they be offered funding within the next two years. The meetings focused on various aspects of the Classroom Facilities program including planning and design, finance, construction, and communications.

2006 Outreach Visits

OSFC is hosting the annual Urban Schools Construction Summit on November 17, 2006 from 9-12:30 at the Columbus Convention Center. This year’s summit is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and important meetings impacting Ohio school facilities projects. If you are interested in attending the Urban Summit, please register online at: http://forms.osfc.state.oh.us/urbanReg/. You may also contact Sue Meyer, OSFC Public Information Specialist, at 614-387-1049 for additional information.

OSFC has achieved another milestone in its mission to provide quality facilities for Ohio’s schoolchildren. The state and local school districts are now spending a combined average of $3 million a day to build and renovate schools in Ohio. The increase in spending, up from the previous average of $2 million a day, is a result of the high level of commitment the Governor and the General Assembly have made to the Rebuilding Ohio’s Schools program.

At its June meeting, the Ohio School Facilities Commission approved staff recommendations for the 2006 updates to the Ohio School Design Manual (OSDM). This is the eighth version of the OSDM, a cornerstone of the Commission’s school facilities program. Developed in 1997, the manual has provided quality standards and flexible guidelines for use by the Commission, school districts, design professionals, and construction managers to build appropriate learning spaces for Ohio’s children. Each year, the OSDM is updated to recognize advances in technology, materials and construction practices.

A major change was to convert the specification structure to the new Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) MasterFormat 2004. The MasterFormat provides a set of common construction definitions and descriptions to ensure that all parties in a building project are speaking the same language. Because so many participants interact on a building project, details about a facility’s materials, products and systems (ranging from the details of the HVAC system, to the kind of window glass, to the type of doorknobs), specifications must be carefully delineated and communicated. The new MasterFormat increased the number of categories from sixteen to fifty. It provides enhanced specifications for many areas including data, communications, and integrated automation systems. By adopting the construction industry’s standard MasterFormat, the changes in the OSDM will allow for improved communication among all parties involved in the construction of a facility.

OSFC will host a one-day summit for architects and engineers involved in school facilities projects. Design professionals will gather on August 1st at the Columbus Convention Center to share their experiences in providing outstanding school design services for Ohio’s school facilities.

OSFC staff will also discuss updates to the program and offer information on changes in procedures and processes that impact architects and engineers working on projects.

During the week of April 17th, school districts across the country celebrated School Building Week. This national event was created by the Council of Educational Facilities Planners’ International (CEFPI) to recognize the importance of buildings in fostering student achievement and serving as centers of the community.

DREAM SCHOOL 2006 is a student design competition, sponsored by the Ohio School Facilities Commission that encourages students in districts participating in OSFC sponsored programs to think about their educational environments and devise creative ways to improve them.

Six high school students were recognized at the Commission’s April 20th meeting for their participation in the agency’s DREAM SCHOOL 2006 competition:

Joshua Spencer, 12th grade (Lakeside High School, Ashtabula Area City School District)
Janina Brown, 10th grade (Gallia Academy High School, Gallipolis City School District)
Patrick Evans, 12th grade (Lakeside High School, Ashtabula Area City School District)
Ben Devine, 12th grade (Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro City School District)
Luke James, 11th grade (New Knoxville High School, New Knoxville Local School District)
Justin Morone, 12th grade (North Union High School, North Union Local School District)

On May 30th, OSFC staff recommended 11 additional school districts for funding next year under the state’s Rebuilding Ohio’s Schools program. The recommendations are based on a district’s relative property wealth and are in addition to the 24 districts that accepted an offer of funding for school renovation and construction projects in March of this year. This brings the potential number of districts that may receive OSFC funding this year to 35.

The offer of funding to these districts represents the first step in the project funding process. The Commission and its staff will be working with the school districts to finalize both the scope of work to be done and the estimated cost. The next step will be local board approval in June of the district-wide facility plans developed jointly by OSFC and the district.

ADDITIONAL DISTRICTS IDENTIFIED FOR FUNDING
OSFC Fiscal Year 2007 Appropriations

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)

OSFC staff recommended 28 school districts for funding next year under the state’s Rebuilding Ohio’s Schools program. The recommendations are based on a district’s relative property wealth or a district’s demonstrated exceptional need.

The offer of funding to these 28 districts represents the first step in the project funding process. The Commission and its staff will be working with the school districts to finalize both the scope of work to be done and the estimated cost. The next step will be local board approval in June of 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 meeting, and the State Controlling Board will be asked for approval during August.

One of the business items at the March 23rd meeting of the Ohio School Facilities Commission was the election of officers. Tim Keen, Director of the State Office of Budget and Management (OBM) was elected as Chairman of the Commission. Mr. Keen succeeds former OBM Director Thomas W. Johnson, who resigned in February to take a position at the Ohio State University. Carol Nolan Drake, Director of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), was selected to serve as Vice Chair.

Thomas W. Johnson stepped down from the Ohio School Facilities Commission at the February 23rd Commission meeting. Mr. Johnson, a member of the Commission because of his position as Director of the Office of Budget and Management, had served as OSFC Chairman since 1999.

Mr. Johnson has accepted a position at The Ohio State University as an Executive in Residence within the John Glenn Institute of Public Service where he will teach and help develop courses in budgeting and fiscal management for local governments and non-profit organizations.

In his role as Chairman, Mr. Johnson strongly supported the Commission’s mission to provide 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.

He played a vital role in establishing policies and procedures to effectively manage the State Of Ohio’s school construction program. He worked diligently in establishing a proud legacy of providing Ohio’s children with high quality, modern and safe school buildings.

Members of the Commission and OSFC staff shared tributes to the outgoing Chairman and recalled his many contributions. He was recognized for his competence, integrity and exemplary service as Chairman of the Commission. The staff will miss his counsel and leadership and we wish him well.

The OSFC is asking architects and engineers to share their experiences in providing outstanding school design services for Ohio’s school facilities in areas such as:

Case study submissions must be received by the OSFC no later than April 30th, 2006 and selected presenters will be featured at the Commission’s A/E Summit in August.

During the week of April 17th, school districts across the county will celebrate School Building Week. This national event was created by the Council of Educational Facilities Planners’ International (CEFPI) to recognize the importance of buildings in fostering student achievement and serving as centers of the community.

The OSFC mailed information to school districts encouraging them to take part in this event and provided suggested activities. District celebrations will be highlighted at the April meeting of the Commission and in OSFC publications.

The Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) is proud to announce the 3rd annual Dream School Student Design Competition, a celebration of School Buildings Week. Each year, eligible students are given the opportunity to submit their designs for an ideal school. The best student designs are selected for recognition, with winning entries prominently displayed in downtown Columbus. Students will also be invited to attend a recognition ceremony on April 20, 2006 by the Commission.

School Buildings Week (April 17-21, 2006) is an annual event sponsored by the Council of Educational Facility Planners, the American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and over 40 other organizations. Several events take place across the country in celebration of providing exciting quality school facilities for students. School Buildings Week engages school districts, community members and students to consider the importance of the physical learning environment in helping children to achieve.

This year, high school students and students in career technical programs in grades 9-12 in districts funded through OSFC programs in Fiscal Year 2006 and those next in line to be funded in Fiscal Year 2007 are eligible to apply.

The Ohio School Design Manual was developed by OSFC staff, in cooperation with architects and nationally recognized educational planners. The manual, after setting necessary minimum standards of quality for the state’s educational facilities, provides a set of guidelines to serve the diverse needs of local school communities and the children they serve. Specifications for square footage allowances, technology needs, and building systems such as HVAC and security are currently included in the manual.

Annually, our staff endeavors to update the manual. This is an extensive process by which we encourage all interested parties (including school districts, vendors, private citizens and others) to provide input on desired changes or additions to the manual. Outreach efforts include weekly meetings in our offices, and the opportunity for interested parties to give presentations on their products. The design manual update committee evaluates the input and makes recommendations to the Commission each April for their approval. The update process began with a kickoff meeting on January 18th and will conclude with final recommendations presented to the commission for approval at our June meeting.

The OSFC, with overwhelming support from the General Assembly and the Governor, has made tremendous progress toward its goal of improving the learning facilities for all Ohio school children. Since its inception in 1997, the Commission has opened 414 new or renovated school building across the state through its four major programs. That total includes 75 buildings opened during calendar year 2005 alone. An additional 130 buildings are currently in design and 89 more are under construction.

The Commission is proud of the impact these facilities have had on thousands of students, however, a great deal of work remains to be done. The OSFC staff is committed to our mission and looks forward to continued success in providing a first class educational environment for all Ohio school children.