Oxford’s City Council Tours New Kramer Elementary School

BY MARIEL PADILLA
Miami University journalism student

Oxford’s City Council members toured the inside of the new Kramer Elementary School last week, getting a sneak peek at the city's newest school building.

The building will be completed on Dec. 9, and students will fill the halls when they return from their winter vacation Jan. 5, 2017.

The new and improved building, located next to the current building at 400 W. Sycamore St., has central air conditioning and is 14 percent larger than the existing Kramer. Currently, 531 students attend Kramer Elementary School, but the new facilities will be able to comfortably accommodate 600.

Mike Davis, treasurer for the Talawanda Board of Education, told Council members the board has aimed to keep the project on budget, on schedule and high quality. As one of the main decision-makers in the project, Davis provided the council members with informational handouts to reference as he showed them around the colorful new building.

“This school is good for Oxford in general,” Davis said. “Many times families are looking for good schools. There’s a qualitative aspect to the education inside the building, but there’s also a quantitative assessment of ‘Do I want my kids to go in that building?’ ”

State contributed funding
The total project cost $17.1 million, but no tax money was used for the funding. The state of Ohio contributed 67.2 percent of the cost while the Talawanda School District paid the rest with existing internal revenues.

“We did not go on the ballot to ask the voters to contribute,” Davis said. “That’s unprecedented in this state. Most construction projects in public schools require that a board of education go out to the taxpayers and open up their wallets to give more in higher taxes. This is a huge win for the community.”

The Talawanda School District contributed a total of $5.6 million through the sale of the old Talawanda High School, selling “certificates of participation,” and the remaining money from the Talawanda High School project.

Construction schedule
Phase One, which includes site work and substantial completion of the new building, will be complete in December. In less than 75 days the Board of Education will obtain the certificate of occupancy.

Phase Two of the project, the construction of a new parking lot and the demolition of the old Kramer, will begin in January 2017. The contractual completion date is July 18, 2017.

“This new facility is colorful, beautiful, and a great space to foster creativity, learning and growth,” Mayor Kate Rousmaniere said. “I’m excited for the students and the community as a whole.”

Photo: Mike Davis shows Oxford City Council members the front door of the new Kramer Elementary School. Oxford Mayor Kate Rousmaniere and Vice Mayor Mike Smith participated in the tour. -- Photo by Mariel Padilla