Marietta Board of Education members collaborated on amending the language for the resolution to further a conversation with the Mid-Ohio Valley Aquatic Center during their monthly meeting Monday night.

The board was looking to further the conversation and create a resolution that reflected its terms and conditions.

“We’re essentially coming up with language that would be non-binding,” said Board President Cody Parman. “We’re just trying to put a board resolution in front of everyone to say this is how we’re going to collect more of that data from this point.”

Board member Russ Garrison read the original language, which identified the MOVAC as potentially building an indoor pool facility on existing Marietta School District Property.

The language also included the MOVAC’s willingness to pay for any potential fees the district may acquire for seeking legal counsel during this process.

“It’s basically saying to engage the attorneys to go talk to their folks and start working through the terms and come back and talk to all of us (MOVAC board) on what we want there and what we want to include in this,” said Garrison.

Garrison said the MOVAC received money from the state, which they’ll have access to until June. He said they have to get the ball rolling and solidify a plan for the MOVAC to hit their timeline.

Board member Jeff Hollister had questions about the basketball courts that were included in the project conversation. He said he thought the original presentation didn’t include anything about basketball courts.

“How much would it add to the cost? How much additional space is it going to take from our parking?” asked Hollister.

Garrison said the discussion opened up to including gym spaces due to the district’s inquiry and broadening that conversation beyond just a pool. He said it was only something they were looking into.

Hollister said he thought these conversations should happen before involving the attorneys.

“The attorneys need to know what the board of education wants before they start negotiating with things,” he said.

Parman said they do have a plan and the general idea is to look at various scenarios with assistance from legal counsel. He said the goal is to have a starting point and adjust that plan accordingly but the attorneys would be there for legal guidance, not making decisions for the district.

Treasurer Frank Antill said they have to start the conversations now in terms of legal financial protections, access, and leasing. He said they’ll have to start meetings with legal and the MOVAC board immediately and frequently.

Board member Taylor Huffman said he recalled in the presentation there was discussion of including facilities such as a gym or basketball court.

Garrison said the MOVAC would work with them to design and sort through the logistics of the facility. He said the district would be responsible for providing the funds for the facility.

Board member Chris Fennell asked if approving the resolution was the first step in the process. Garrison said the main objective of the resolution right now was to show the MOVAC they were serious about moving forward with this project.

Parman said he wanted to make sure legal counsel was involved in the discussion process as they move forward. He said rather than continually coming up with hypotheticals, he wanted to be efficient with time and productivity by having guidance from legal so they know precisely what the “guardrails” are for the project.

The board made a motion to pass the resolution, made a motion to amend the resolution, approved the amendment and then made a motion to approve the amended resolution.

“I didn’t try to get it (resolution language) too perfect because I knew we were going to have these conversations,” said Garrison. “It’s beneficial for all of us as a board to work through something like this … so that we’re not afraid of working through these things in public and recognizing there’s a process to do that.”

The final resolution included a clear definition of terms for the MOVAC to cover the district’s legal expenses. The resolution also stated the MOVAC could proceed with conversations involving the Southeast Ohio Port Authority and district attorney for the project.

The Marietta City School District Board of Education will hold a special board meeting to further discuss finances today at 6 p.m. at 111 Academy Drive.