Talawanda School District Moving Toward Marshall School Renovation

BY ANNA QUENNEVILLE
Miami University journalism student

Oxford's Marshall Elementary School is next on the list for a do-over.

To make that happen, The Talawanda School District Board of Education last week voted to participate in Ohio Facilities Construction Commission Classroom Facilities Assistance Program "Segment 2" this year.

By a 5-0 vote, the board endorsed moving forward with a $14 million project to raze the existing Marshall building at 360 Oxford Millville Road and construct a new Marshall School on the same property.

With the vote, the board will submit its plan to the OFCC next month, asking for $3.5 million in state money for the Marshall project.

“This would be a huge move forward for the district, a huge move forward for the students and faculty at Marshall Elementary,” said School Board Treasurer Mike Davis.

In 2001, the Talawanda School District allowed the Ohio School Facilities Commission to evaluate every property and create a Master Facilities Plan. A priority list was then created stating if the facilities were to be renovated or abated/demolished.

Talawanda School District has already seen major changes with the construction of a new Bogan Elementary, a new Talawanda High School, and a new Kramer Elementary.

“We have made significant progress. It is so important to have modern facilities with access to modern science labs and technology,” said Director of Communications and Public Relations Holli Morrish.

The Talawanda School District is among nine participating in the OFCC Segment 2 program, and its budget for Marshall is smaller than most others in the program.

Local taxpayers will not have to worry about absorbing any of the Marshall costs, according to Davis. Like Kramer, Marshall construction will be covered with existing funds, plus the OFCC dollars, he said.

“It is not yet a slam dunk,” said Davis.

Official plans will not be clear until December. The Talawanda School District will bring its plans for Marshall to the OFCC on Oct. 26 for consideration and, it hopes, approval.

According to Morrish, the new Marshall Elementary School will be LEED certified. The district aims to create sustainable facilities that are environmentally friendly, she said.

“This is a chance to take a bite of the apple to really move ahead and get a world-class facility in Marshall,” said Davis.

The next Talawanda Board of Education meeting will be Oct. 16.

Photo: Talawanda Board of Education meetings are held at Talawanda High School in the Performing Arts Center. -- Photo by Anna Quenneville