By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com

Colonel Crawford set the wheels in motion on getting the funds to build a gymnasium with the new high school wing at Monday’s board meeting.

The board passed five resolutions towards either receiving government funds or putting a levy on the ballot in November in order to fund the new gym, which would cost $3,595,000.

The first resolution approved the retaining of Squire Sanders (US) LLP to provide legal services as bond counsel in connection with the project.

The second resolution will set up the petition to the Ohio School Facilities Commission for approval of an alternative method of meeting the classroom facilities maintenance requirement.

The third resolution to help secure future funds would place the school district as a special needs district due to the decrease in enrollment. Treasurer Vickey Stump noted that, “to qualify as a Special Needs District Colonel Crawford would have to submit 10-year estimates on future enrollment, as well as debt expenditures.”

The fourth resolution declared the necessity of submitting the question of the levy for vote in the Colonel Crawford School district to issue the School Facilities Improvement Bonds for $3,595,000 in order to pay for the construction of the new competition gym.

The fifth resolution declares the necessity to levy a tax on permanent improvements to the gymnasium if built. The resolution also requests that the Crawford County Auditor would certify the total current tax value and the dollar amount of revenue that would be generated by the .5 mil levy for general upkeep and maintenance of the proposed gymnasium.

Four new teachers were on hand to introduce themselves to the board, intermediate music teacher Shaun Shotwell, fifth grade math teacher Jarrod Thew, sixth grade Social Studies teacher, Sarah Rothhaar, and intermediate school vocal teacher Katelyn Foreman were welcomed to the Colonel Crawford School District.

The next Colonel Crawford Board of Education meeting will be Monday, July 22 at 7 p.m. in the William and Hannah Media Center.