FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Would you like more information about Little Miami’s construction and renovation projects? Submit your questions to LMBondIssue@woh.rr.com Answers will be posted on this FAQ site.
Q: It doesn't appear that the asphalt put down at the sites of the new Junior High School and new Intermediate School has been done correctly. Can you please explain what has been done at these sites?
The project team elected to do an early site package at both the Junior High and Intermediate Projects. The main benefit is that the early sitework can be completed while the design of the building is being finalized. This provides a significant advantage to the project schedule allowing the construction of the project to start earlier.
The asphalt paving, with the exception of the top 1 1/2" coarse is included in this scope of work. Providing the base asphalt allows for significant advantages when the construction starts as there is a clean, low maintenance surface from which to build the building.
The asphalt paving has been designed by the engineer of record and is installed in accordance with the approved design documents. The design of the asphalt meets and/or exceeds industry standards for heavy duty pavement and corresponding bus traffic.
Q: Why does the brick on the high school addition look different than the rest of the building? What will be done to make it match more closely?
The brick being used on the high school addition is the same brick that was used on the existing building. The brick that has been erected at the multi-purpose room has not yet received its final cleaning and sealing which leads to the unmatched look. Once the brick is cleaned, it will better match the existing. However, there is no way to achieve a perfect match as the existing brick has been exposed to the weather elements for several years.
Q: What is the exact location of the new 5-6 Intermediate School and where will the main entrance be located?
The building is located at the corners of Stephens and Zoar. The front of the building will face the intersection of Stephens and Zoar at the Southeast corner of the property. Both Stephens and Zoar will experience road widening work prior to the start of school, and both roads will have entrances to the school. However, the entrance on Zoar will be the main entrance. Q: If the elementary schools are so overcrowded, why is the high school being completed first? How will this help with the problem at the other schools?
The high school addition was the first to commence. While the design process for all three projects started simultaneously, the high school planning process was completed more quickly than the others. The simplest explanation is that the addition at the high school was less complex and resulted in a faster design process. Much of the design work was completed when the high school was originally built. Additionally, the District encountered some challenges in obtaining the deed for the donated land where the intermediate school will be located, which lengthened the design schedule.
Once the high school addition opens Fall 2008, eighth grade students will be move to the high school for one year. This will free up additional space at the current Intermediate/Junior High complex, which will become a neighborhood elementary school the following school year. To provide relief to the elementary schools, 250-300 elementary students will be housed at the Welch Road Complex for 2008-2009.
Q: Is Little Miami going to receive money for construction from the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC)?
The Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) has provided money to schools throughout Ohio. However, this program is not economically feasible for Little Miami Schools. We were concerned the district would never realize any returns after investing approximately 15–20 percent more to satisfy OSFC program requirements. There were many factors we considered before opting not to participate in the OSFC program. Many citizens said they did not support razing all our buildings except the high school in order to receive the State funds. There are 612 school districts ranked by need. In seven years, Little Miami Schools has dramatically dropped from the 67th percentile to the 77th percentile, and hundreds of districts in between are not yet funded. The percentage of funding the district could be eligible to receive has been significantly reduced since last year. Finally, there is no guarantee the district would receive this money. By abandoning the OSFC program, Little Miami has been able to develop a customized plan that meets the expectations of our communities for a more affordable cost.
Q: What are the transportation department’s needs?
The district has identified 26 buses, or 47 percent of the fleet, that need to be replaced before 2009 due to age and mileage. This does not include adding to the fleet to accommodate additional students. Currently, four buses will not pass future state inspections, and 21 buses are either more than 10 years old or have over 200,000 miles.
The district has met with state transportation officials and will complete the redesign of transportation this summer to increase longevity of buses and minimize overcrowding and safety concerns.
