By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Task force members for Bowling Green school facilities were armed with stickers and clickers Wednesday evening.
To get an idea of task force members’ perceptions and desires for the school buildings, the facilitators asked them to vote on current problems and future possibilities.
Facilitator Dan Obrynba said the perceptions of the task force and community vary greatly.
“Your definitions of ‘need’ could be as many as the people sitting here,” Obrynba said.
One big issue dividing the district is support for neighborhood versus consolidated elementaries. Task force members said even the definition for “neighborhood schools” is a topic of debate. For some it is defined by location – for others it is defined by smaller size.
The task force facilitators talked about the need for members to see the buildings they are helping to determine the fate of – to see the current conditions of the structures. Driving by the schools does not give a true picture of the buildings.
“There should be a genuine curiosity to see the buildings, if you’ve not,” Obrynba said. “We should move these meetings around building to building.”
Using stickers, approximately 55 task force members identified what they saw as the top needs for the school buildings. The results showed:
- New HVAC: 45
- More space: 41
- Technology: 25
- Safety/security: 22
- Flexible teaching space: 12
- Healthy environment: 8
- Keeping small schools: 7
- Parking improvements: 0
Following are the results for the task members’ votes on the top issues facing the school district as it works on its buildings:
- Renovations vs. rebuilding: 37
- Neighborhood vs. consolidated schools: 36
- Educational issues: 31
- Cost: 27
- Communication: 19
- Voter turnout: 7
- Demographics: 2
- Community awareness: 1
Task force members were also given “clickers” to anonymously rank the condition of the school buildings and their opinions on how the district should proceed. Following are the results of those questions.
How do you define the condition of Bowling Green High School?
- Excellent, 2%; Very good, 10%; Good, 25%; Fair, 41%; Poor, 22 %
Condition of Bowling Green Middle School?
- Excellent, 47%; Very good, 40%; Good, 11%; Fair, 2%; Poor, 0%
Condition of Conneaut Elementary?
- Excellent, 2%; Very good, 15%; Good, 13%; Fair, 17%; Poor, 53%
Condition of Crim Elementary?
- Excellent, 4%; Very good, 27%; Good, 46%; Fair, 21%; Poor, 2%
Condition of Kenwood Elementary?
- Excellent, 2%, Very good, 8%; Good, 15%; Fair, 17%; Poor, 58%
Task force members were also asked for their opinions about the best solutions for each school building. Following are the results.
Should the high school be retained and renovated?
- Strongly agree, 33%; Agree, 28%; Neutral, 19%; Disagree, 11%; Strongly disagree, 9%
Should the middle school be retained and renovated?
- Strongly agree, 68%; Agree, 0%; Neutral, 3%; Disagree, 8%; Strongly disagree, 22%
Should Conneaut be retained and renovated?
- Strongly agree, 21%; Agree, 8%; Neutral, 11%; Disagree, 17%; Strongly disagree, 43%
Should Crim be retained and renovated?
- Strongly agree, 22%; Agree, 35%; Neutral, 18%; Disagree, 8%; Strongly disagree, 18%
Should Kenwood be retained and renovated?
- Strongly agree, 17%; Agree, 9%; Neutral, 11%; Disagree, 15%; Strongly disagree, 47%
Should the high school be completely or partially replaced with a new facility?
- Strongly agree, 41%; Agree, 22%; Neutral, 4%; Disagree, 10%; Strongly disagree, 24%
Should the middle school be completely or partially replaced with a new facility?
- Strongly agree, 4%; Agree, 0%; Neutral, 2%; Disagree, 9%; Strongly disagree, 85%
Should Conneaut be completely or partially replaced with a new facility?
- Strongly agree, 43%; Agree, 16%; Neutral, 8%; Disagree, 4%; Strongly disagree, 29%
Should Crim be completely or partially replaced with a new facility?
- Strongly agree, 13%; Agree, 13%; Neutral, 15%; Disagree, 13%; Strongly disagree, 45%
Should Kenwood be completely or partially replaced with a new facility?
- Strongly agree, 54%; Agree, 19%; Neutral, 2%; Disagree, 4%; Strongly disagree, 21%
The next meeting of the facilities task force will be Nov. 8, possibly at Conneaut Elementary so the members can tour the building prior to the meeting.
The facilities task force members were also invited to attend the next finance task force meeting, which will feature a representative of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. That meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., in the high school cafeteria.
