By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The school facilities planning process will be starting from scratch with a new architectural firm.
A defect in the initial process of hiring a firm to work on a facilities plan for the Bowling Green City School District led to a new firm being hired on Wednesday. The board voted unanimously to rescind the resolution selecting the original firm, and authorized negotiation of an agreement with a new firm.
In March, the school board voted to hire ThenDesign Architecture, of Willoughby, which said it would help design a new school building and help the board pass a bond issue to pay for it.
However, the board was notified by the state auditor that public monies cannot be used for campaign services, as promised by the original firm, school board President Ryan Myers explained.
The state auditor advised that the board re-advertise for the architectural position.
After the second round of advertising, two new firms were interviewed as well as the first firm selected for the job. The selection committee recommended DLR Group.
“We’re excited about the process moving forward with DLR Group,” Myers said.
Myers said he remains hopeful that the board still has time to get a building issue on the November ballot.
“It’s absolutely possible,” he said. “This process slowed us down by a matter of a few weeks.”
Myers said the facilities planning process with the new firm will begin soon with a public kickoff event.
The last attempt to build a new building in the district focused on a new high school, with the acknowledgement that two elementaries also need vast improvements or be replaced.
“We want to get a fresh look and have fresh conversations,” Myers said.
The board has applied for state facilities funding through the Expedited Local Partnership Program.
After taking action on the facilities issue Wednesday, the board voted to go into executive session to continue deliberating on the selection of a new superintendent to take over when Francis Scruci retires at the end of July.
The three finalists were in Bowling Green last week to meet with the community, school leadership, teachers, city leaders and other stakeholders.
“The process is extremely thorough,” Myers said. “This is such an important decision. That’s why we are taking our time.”
Myers said the board has read the comments about the three finalists submitted by those who attended last week’s meetings.
“We’ve read every single form from every single forum,” he said, noting that all concerns are being vetted.
While the board hopes to have a new district leader selected this month, the new superintendent’s first official day on the job will be Aug. 1.
No action was expected after the executive session.
