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Local News

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

School board gets advice on building work
Streicher's
By DENISE GRANT

Staff Writer

Sam Martin, superintendent of Mohawk Schools, told Findlay city school board members Tuesday to avoid “the Bermuda Triangle” with its upcoming building project.

Martin was a guest speaker at the board's workshop on building and boardmanship. He has overseen several school building projects, including an Ohio School Facilities Commission project at Mohawk.

Findlay voters approved a 4.3-mill bond issue in November to help pay for three schools. It will raise $54 million, and will be matched with $19 million from the commission. The new Millstream Career Technical Center will open in the fall of 2012. Two middle schools will follow the next year. It will take a year to design the buildings. Bidding should take place in early to mid-year 2011.

Tuesday's workshop was put together by the Ohio School Boards Association after Barbara Dysinger, a member of the city school board, contacted the association asking for help. Dysinger had two questions as the workshop began: What should the board do, and what shouldn't the board do?

“Avoiding the Bermuda Triangle,” Martin said, references a scene from the movie “Sleepless in Seattle.” Tom Hanks' character in the movie, an architect, likens a sudden change in his building project, and problems in his personal life, to the Bermuda Triangle.

Martin likes how the scene shows different characters, the owner, the architect and the construction manager interacting. Each has their own priorities and perspective. Findlay board members were asked to watch the scene, and then identify each character's priorities. The homeowner was clear: she wanted a bigger refrigerator. Hanks wanted to please the homeowner, and the construction manager started talking about weeks of delay.

He said the board, as owner of the schools, should be just as clear on its priorities and know the “key players.”

“You are going to have to live with these buildings and the community ...,” Martin said. “... Know what a successful project is going to be for your community.”

Laura Bagshaw, a board member with Hillsboro City Schools, had similar advice. The commission funded 77 percent of that district's building project, including an elementary, middle school and high school.

She described Hillsboro's experience with the commission as “fabulous,” and much less problematic than the district building on its own. Still, she said it is an overwhelming process and it can't be the “core focus” of the board.

“Education is your core focus,” she said.

Bagshaw advised the board to develop an “ownership mentality” and to be demanding.

“Only, with this project, in reality, the schools belong to everybody. ... Get people to buy into it, to own it. Create excitement and maintain it through the life of the process and keep people in the know. ...,” she said.

Grant: 419-427-8412,

Send an e-mail to Denise Grant


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1 Comment

cookiebaker wrote:
School board gets advice on building work
“ Here's what the school board can do, listen to the needs of the staff and students. They are in the building all day, the school board is not. What the board thinks is important may be a waste of money and completely useless to the students/staff. ”
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 6:59:35 AM
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Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

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There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.