Warren makes pledge on local labor

LITTLE HOCKING - The Warren Local Board of Education approved a labor agreement Monday that would guarantee at least 80 percent of a possible school construction project would use local labor.

The district has a combined 8.76-mill bond issue and tax levy on the May 4 ballot that, if approved, will mean three new elementary schools, a junior high and a high school will be constructed, with the district's taxpayers paying about $31.8 million over a maximum of 28 years and the Ohio School Facilities Commission funding the other 58 percent of the project.

"If we're going to invest $70 million and ask our taxpayers to contribute nearly $32 million over 28 years, we're going to put people back to work," said Warren Superintendent Tom Gibbs. "Seventy million dollars is a big chunk to be invested in the local community."

The local area outlined in the agreement is defined first as Washington County and secondly as its surrounding counties, he said.

It doesn't mean only local unions could be part of the project, though, Gibbs said.

"Any skilled laborer can go to the union hall and sign up to be on the list of workers," he said. "It can be anyone from the local population."

Gibbs addressed the concern about local money going outside the area during the construction project Monday, as well as other questions from several Little Hocking area residents in attendance.

The board meeting was held at Little Hocking Elementary Monday rather than the administration office in Vincent in an effort to make a bond issue presentation more accessible to residents there. The board's April 19 meeting will be at Warren Elementary.

A list of other public meetings where Gibbs is scheduled to make bond issue presentations is available on the district's Web site, at www.warrenlocal.k12.oh.us/.

He said Monday that one of the most frequent questions he gets at various meetings is regarding the quality of the OSFC's work, particularly because the Frontier Local district had major structural issues with its new buildings after it partnered with the commission.

"When Frontier Local did its project, the Ohio School Facilities Commission was in its infancy... at the time the state was really pushing for the lowest cost and not as worried about the product," he said. "(Due to the increase in school construction), there were construction management firms literally sprung out of nowhere, and they were not union and not skilled basically."

Gibbs said he doesn't have concerns about working with the OSFC today, after the commission changed its standards several years ago.

"The first couple districts had a tough time," he said. "But since that time there's been a much better product."

Recent projects in other districts have been coming in under the projected costs, something the Warren board hopes to capitalize on.

"I really believe if we can get this passed quickly we can benefit from getting lower bids," Gibbs said.

There is a sense of urgency because prices are so low right now, said board member John Rauch.

"This is probably the best deal we could ever hope to see," he said. "It just makes sense."

If the 8.76-mill issue doesn't pass, the board will likely have to ask for a 5-mill levy to pay for roof and other essential repairs at district schools, Gibbs said.

"For five mills, all it's going to get you is the same old school with a new roof and not much difference in the classrooms," he said. "For 8.67 mills, you can get completely redesigned, state-of-the-art, modern classrooms."

The cost of the bond issue for the owner of a home with an appraised value of $100,000 is $268 a year, while the cost of a five-mill levy for the same homeowner would be $153 a year.