By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City School District has been awarded $3.2 million to help cool and clean the air in classrooms.
Board member Ryan Myers announced Tuesday evening that the district was successful in securing Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding to pay for a portion of the $3.9 million in air conditioning systems for the three district school buildings without air conditioning – the high school, Conneaut Elementary and Kenwood Elementary.
The mini split systems will provide air conditioning to cool the air and ionization to kill viruses.
“Certainly at this time we could use all the help we could get,” Superintendent Francis Scruci said in August.
The goal is to have the air conditioning systems in place by next spring.
“We realize how important the air conditioning is,” Myers said in August when the district had to reapply for the funds. “The last thing I would want is for us to kick that out, and we’d be looking at fall of 2022.”
Treasurer Cathy Schuller explained last month that the district does have some other “unencumbered and unspoken for” funds that could pay the remaining costs for the air conditioning. The pipeline funds or the general fund could up the difference, she said.
At least 20% of ESSER funds must be used to make up for learning losses due to COVID-19. Those monies could be used to extend new personnel positions through September 2024, Scruci said last month.
The board of education discussed other facility issues on Tuesday evening.
Board member Jill Carr talked about the efforts underway to collect input on the building needs in the school district. A meeting with teachers was held recently to gather their insight. The next step is a meeting to gather input from community members. Carr explained that efforts are being made to include people of all backgrounds for the meeting.
The information gathered from both groups will be presented at the next school board meeting by Fanning Howey Associates, which the district is contracting with for planning services.
Myers said he attended some of the sessions held with teachers about building ideas.
“It was very exciting just to walk around and listen to the conversations,” he said.
Fanning Howey presented options of traditional, contemporary, and mixed designs for school buildings – whether they are renovations of existing buildings or new buildings.
“You start to see excitement in teachers’ eyes,” Myers said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Board member Tracy Hovest also reported on the efforts to deal with Army Worms eating the softball field grass, and efforts to address water seeping through cracks on the district tennis courts.
