LEXINGTON — There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for the construction of Lexington Local Schools’ new elementary building.
After years of waiting, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission notified the district last month the agency is ready to release funds for the project.
On Wednesday, the Lexington school board approved a resolution authorizing the OFCC’s move forward. The agency will take the project before the state board of control for approval in January.
“We anticipate moving forward with the search of an architect likely in February, and then that would be early spring to find our construction manager and start the design process,” Supt. Jeremy Secrist said.
District officials said they hope to break ground on the new elementary school in 9 to 12 months. The facility will be built either behind or in front of Central Elementary, located at 124 Frederick St.
Secrist said he thinks the consolidated elementary will be open for the 2028-2029 school year or possibly the year before.
“I’m not sure how to put into words the relief that we all finally feel,” Secrist said this week.
Voters passed levy in 2018, but state funding was delayed
Lexington school district voters approved a 37-year, 8.6-mill bond levy in 2018 to fund the construction of two new buildings — an elementary and a combined junior high and high school.
The OFCC agreed to fund 53 percent of the project cost.
Secrist, who was assistant superintendent at the time, said the district expected to receive its OFCC funding share in 2020.
District leaders planned to construct the new elementary and grades 7-12 buildings at the same time, as soon the OFCC released the funds.
After it became clear the funds would be delayed, Lexington joined the OFCC’s Expedited Local Partnership Program, which allows districts to begin facilities projects using local funds.
“We use our local money, they track it, they credit us and they’ll give us that money when their money is available,” Treasurer Jason Whitesel told Richland Source in 2023.
Thought the ELPP, Lexington constructed its new junior high and high school facility, which opened in 2022.
Secrist said school and elected officials consistently lobbied the OFCC to release Lexington’s funds.
“We have worked extremely hard, especially the last four or five years, to get in front of the OFCC. (State) Senator Mark Romanchuck, Commissioner Tony Vero, helped us secure meetings twice,” Secrist said.
“Jason and I had our own conversations, emails, meetings with the OFCC, consistently letting them know, ‘We are ready to go.'”
Lexington will use tax anticipation notes to cover increased costs
Secrist said the OFCC increased its overall contribution due to inflation, but the district will also have to do the same.
District officials said there is a plan in place to generate an extra $3.2 million for the project.
At Wednesday’s board meeting, the district’s financial consultant David Conley recommended the board fund the difference by issuing a Tax Anticipation Note (TAN). The board voted to accept his recommendation.
The TAN will allow the district to borrow $3.2 million and pay it back with funds from Lexington’s continuous permanent improvement levy.
Meanwhile, the bonds issued to build the school will actually cost the district less than expected, due to low interest rates at the time.
“We were so fortunate last time that when we went and sold our bonds, we had such a good interest rate,” Secrist said.
“What was going to be a 37-year repayment plan was knocked all the way down to 30 years, and it saves the district and the voters about $28 million in interest.”
‘Our community deserves this’
As school board members cast their votes to proceed with the project, Secrist couldn’t help but think of late board president Bob Whitney.
Whitney first joined the school board in 1964 and was still at its helm when he passed away on Jan. 1.
“I think it was in front of everyone’s minds last night,” Secrist said Thursday afternoon. “That it’s one of the very last things that Bob asked for prior to passing: ‘Make sure we get this done.'”
Whitney’s successor, school board President Keith Stoner, said he’s looking forward to seeing the project through.
“Our kids deserve it. Our families deserve it. Our employees deserve these state-of the art facilities,” Stoner said.
“The work that we do in some outdated facilities is pretty amazing. I think the sky’s limit when we finally get facilities that are state-of-the-art and able to deliver everything, from a learning standpoint, that is possible these days.”
Secrist said he’s appreciative of the OFCC for releasing the funds and to the community for their continued patience and support.
“Our community deserves this. We’ve had to wait too long, but it all worked out and we’re going to get what we voted for,” he said.
“I just want to say how much I appreciate the fact that (the community) stepped up in 2018 for this. The fact that they continue to support us, continue to pass renewal levies, continue to support the teachers and the staff.
“I can’t wait to show them what they’ve been waiting on.”
