Frequently Asked Questions

Commonly asked questions about master planning and the district's efforts.

How did the buildings get so bad? Did the District ignore repairs?

No, in fact, the opposite is true. District maintenance staff continue to do their best to keep the schools safe and in the best shape possible. This includes spending thousands of dollars each year on basic and “Band-Aid” repairs to expensive, outdated systems that no longer function efficiently. However, due to space shortages and the building's effective lifespan, most repairs are no longer enough. The high/middle school and 5 elementary schools are not ADA accessible. The district uses every square foot in each of the buildings. Continuing to spend money on repairs and makeshift modifications is not the best use of District dollars. The most cost efficient, fiscally responsible action is to consider a long term facility plan that accommodates the district for the next 75 years.

What is a Facilities Master Plan?

The facilities master plan is a long-term facility improvement plan that provides clear direction as to how New Philadelphia City Schools should address its facility improvement needs of our current AND future students. 

What is wrong with our current buildings?

Our current schools were designed for learning in a different era. Modern education is hampered by our aging facilities. Facilities Master Plans address the needs of the district now and well into the future. As the costs associated with operating and maintaining aging buildings continues to rise. Building assessments were conducted by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), the outcome of which recommended replacing those buildings instead of renovating them. So the district is working with community members, educators and design and construction professionals to better understand how to solve the facility issues in the district. 

Why did the Facilities Planning Committee recommend new buildings rather than renovating our existing schools?

The Ohio Facilities Construction (OFCC) had a team of architects and engineers evaluate our school buildings and recommended them for replacement due to their study findings which outlined major replacement needed for many systems of infrastructure. In addition to this information, the Quaker Spirit Facilities Improvement Committee studied the existing sizes, layouts, type of spaces and grade arrangement in our school buildings. They found that our school buildings do not meet today’s delivery model for education, and many spaces that are common in new schools are completely absent in our schools. Even with renovations to the building systems and materials, the existing layout and sizes of the building spaces would not change. The committee came to a consensus that a two phase approach where constructing a new PreK-6 elementary school first was the best long-term, fiscally responsible solution. Then later on, Phase 2 would include a new 7-12 school. View the whole plan here.

If the students are going to remain in their existing schools while new schools are being built on the same site, how are we going to keep them safe?

Constructing a new educational facility on the same site as an operating existing school is a common approach for many districts. However, safety and security are paramount and a thoughtful comprehensive approach is required to ensure the safety and security of students and staff. While each project presents its own unique set of challenges, there is a “best practices” approach to construction on such a site. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Construction fencing

• Jersey barriers

• Separate contractor and material delivery entrances

• Daily communication with principals on construction activities for the day

• Development of a security plan and clear understanding of authorized areas of work

• Background checks for all workers on site

Where can I find the details about what is included in this plan?

There is a dedicated page on our website that outlines Phase 1 and Phase 2 of this project. You can find it here.

Are there floor plans for the new PreK-6 facility and when will they be released?

After the bond passes, an architect will be engaged to design the building. Due to design costs, it would not be economically responsible to pay for these services before funds are available. This is the typical process for school construction. This design process includes engagements with the community and district staff to ensure the new school will meet the needs of the district and students.

If the bond issue passes and the new PreK-6 is built, does that mean the district is moving away from “grade banding” in their schools?

One of the benefits of building a centralized PreK-6 facility is that district staff and students can be consolidated in a single facility. This single facility will streamline the district’s ability to share educational resources among grade levels, promote collaboration among staff and students and enhance safety and security since there will be only 1 facility to maintain. This is often a better solution for many families since it minimizes the physical transitions a student must go through adjusting to a new building while also simplifying student transportation. 

Will our new buildings be sustainable or feature any alternative energy components?

The new schools will be LEED Silver Certified. Typically in new school construction, the architect uses design features that have a big impact on the indoor environment and energy consumption. For example, indoor air quality is improved through the use of low-emitting materials that contain no or low amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are carbon compounds that become a gas at normal room temperatures and contribute to air pollution directly and through atmospheric photochemical reactions, and produce secondary air pollutants such as ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrate. Most new schools concentrate on using adhesives, sealants, paints, carpets, and composite wood throughout the building that are low-emitting. For energy and utility consumptions, the HVAC system will be energy efficient, provide the required fresh air requirements, and control the humidity to create a healthy and comfortable air quality. Additionally, water consumption is reduced significantly through the use of low-flow fixtures and other measures. During the design and construction process there are a variety of “credits” the district can choose from to achieve LEED Silver Certification. Once the project enters design, the architects, engineers, and school district hold an “Eco-Charrette” to determine which credits will be chosen to be incorporated into the project.  

When will the new buildings open?

Once the bond issue passes, the district must hire the design architect and construction manager at risk (CMR). This process can take 3-6 months. Once hired, the design timeline for a new building typically takes around 15 months and the physical construction would take 2-2.5 years.

If additional housing and businesses move into the community, what does that do to the costs of this bond issue and the city income tax moving forward?

A bond issue is essentially a “fixed sum bond.” It is subject to House Bill 920, so your taxes are not going to go up if the value of your home goes up at a later date. We would still be dealing with the same fixed sum, regardless of how much your home is worth over time. If housing is built in New Philadelphia, it's likely that the taxes associated with this levy would actually go down when new homes and businesses are added. Essentially you take the same fixed sum and spread it over a larger tax base. This happens because there are more people who are helping to pay. 

If the Bond Issue passes this May, when can we expect to build Phase II?

Completion of the entire master plan project (Phase 1 and Phase 2) requires the financial assistance of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC). While the timing of the OFCC funding offer is uncertain, New Philadelphia City Schools is in the top batch of districts, and it is estimated to be served in the next five years. By moving forward with Phase 1 of the project now, New Philadelphia locks in the OFCC’s 56% matched future credit for Phase 2, regardless of whether the district moves on the OFCC’s Equity Rank List. Once disbursed, the credits we receive from the State of Ohio will be used to build a new MS/HS. We anticipate that the district will be able to fund the MS/HS project without an additional bond issue.

What is the difference between an operating issue and a bond issue?

Money from an operating issue is used for the operation of a school district, including supplies and equipment, essential school programs, teaching staff, and services.  A bond issue raises money, that by law, can only be used for capital costs such as building construction.

Have we considered the traffic impact on the South Elementary Site if we locate the new PreK-6 there?

The community voiced concern about whether the South Elementary site could accommodate increased traffic to the new school. The district commissioned a traffic study to be conducted on this site to better understand what improvements, if any, need to be made. This third party assessment ensures traffic will be properly managed once the building is operational. In addition to rearranging the site for the new school, there are many design strategies which will be employed ensuring the new building will adequately support bussing and vehicular traffic onsite.

Has a site been chosen for the new 7-12 school yet?

Many in the community voiced their desire to keep the middle/high school where it’s currently located. As a result of this input, the Board of Education committed to building the new Middle/High school on the existing school site, ensuring the new building stays centrally located in New Philadelphia City.