By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
With the Rover Pipeline currently being installed in Crawford County there have been a few questions and not many answers on the potential benefits that the construction project could bring to the local school systems.
During Treasurer Leesa Smith’s report to the Wynford Board of Education Thursday night, she voiced her concerns to the board about the lack of information coming from Rover’s side.
“Superintendent Fred Fox and I have been asking a lot to see what benefits the school district would be receiving, but the county auditor is hesitant to say any actual numbers,” Smith said. “If we do receive money from the pipeline, the state funding will drop; however, it is my recommendation that I not put anything in the five-year forecast because I can’t determine what the numbers will be until we get the actual numbers in.”
Fox noted that the original site drawings for the Rover Pipeline would have put a suppression station within the Wynford School District; however, since then the site has been moved about a half mile east, moving it out of the district.
Fox added that he doesn’t expect to see as much money from the pipeline as Buckeye Central, but still hopes that the state government looks favorably at Wynford’s situation.
The Buckeye Central school board voiced similar concerns at its last meeting. The Rover Pipeline project is currently under construction and has come under heavy criticism this week because of spills in wetlands in Richland and Stark counties.
Smith’s report wasn’t all unknowns as she reported that the school would be receiving over $30,000 in Medicaid reimbursements. Smith thanked the staff for their work on compiling their reports for work done as well as time spent with students.
During his report Fox gave numbers on what the school has saved since taking advantage of HB 264. With new light fixtures as well as heating and cooling upgrades, the school has saved $11,000 on electricity, and $5,000 on gas prices for a total savings of $16,000. Fox felt that the school may hit the projections or do even better than what the original projected savings were, which would make the HB 264 upgrades pay for themselves over time.
Fox also announced that Wynford would be receiving an electronic sign for the entrance of the school, which he hopes will be in place next year. Fox said that the sign was part of a senior project.
The Wynford Board of Education approved a revised resolution requesting the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) to establish the new scope, estimated basic project cost, and local share in the classroom facilities assistance program. Fox noted that in a phone call from the OSFC, the commission requested that the school change the resolution and back up the start time from April to July. Fox also added that to complete the work the OSFC suggested the school hire a pre-bond architect.
The Wynford Board of Education approved all items on the agenda including the donation of a high jump pit from the Wynford Athletic Boosters.