Dear Parents, Students, and Community Members: 

I thank you for visiting our Napoleon Area Schools Facilities Project update page. This page provides an overview of the Facilities Project and a Q & A for questions received thus far. If you have additional suggestions, questions, or concerns, do please email them to us at nacsfacilities@napoleonareaschools.org.

Should I be able to assist you, please do contact me at 419-599-7015.

Thanks!
Stephen R. Fogo, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Facilities Project Overview

Facilities Q & A

Why is the district proposing a new PreK-6 elementary and adding 7th/8th grade on to the High School?
How much will the project cost?
What are the Locally Funded Initiatives (LFI) included in the project thus far?
What would it cost a taxpayer of the Napoleon Area School district?
Why isn’t Napoleon Area Schools getting as much from the state as other schools around us?
Why can’t we just renovate the buildings we have?
Where is the new elementary school going to be located?
What will happen to the existing schools?
How will you keep younger students away from older students?

Facilities Project Overview

In July, 2011, Napoleon Area Schools agreed to partner with the Ohio School Facilities (OSFC) in meeting the district’s facilities needs. Through this partnership, the OSFC will offer the community and district just over one-third of the funding (38%) for renovating its high school and building new facilities for grade PreK-8. Based on a vision from the district’s Board of Education, the district will add a 7th/8th grade addition on to the Napoleon High School and build a new PreK-6 elementary school.

Why is the district proposing a new PreK-6 elementary and adding 7th/8th grade on to the High School?

A Pre-K through 6^th building would provide both an opportunity for our students to transition from one grade to another more smoothly. It would also allow for a more efficient use of district resources in the years to come. By adding 7^th/8^th grade onto the High School, the students would be able to take more offerings for high school credit. The High School was built to accommodate 1,000 students. At present, there are 670 students attending the High School. Adding a grade 7^th/8^th grade wing would allow the facility space to be better utilized. The move to two buildings would also enable cost savings in the future.

How much will the project cost?

The total project is estimated to cost 47.4 million dollars. Of this, the Ohio School Facilities will fund 17.4 million dollars. This leaves the local cost of 31.5 million dollars or 5.88 mills of property tax.

What are the Locally Funded Initiatives (LFI) included in the project thus far?

There are $1,500,000 in LFI projects included in the project. The largest portion of this amount will go to expand the new elementary school and junior high school gyms; add a stage, acoustical treatments, retractable stadium seating, lighting and a sound system to the new junior high gym to serve the district as an auditorium; and, renovate the swimming pool at the High School. (The OSFC does not partner in renovations or construction costs associated with swimming pools.) Lastly, a small portion goes to renovation to the Board Offices (Electrical, Fire Suppressant System, and Telecommunications).

What would it cost a taxpayer of the Napoleon Area School district?

The local share of 31.5 million dollars will need 5.88 mills of property tax. A property owner of a $104,000 home (median home price for the district) would pay approximately $190.00 per year. The district will also be seeking a .25% earned income tax operating levy to ensure the district’s instructional programs continue to offer students a quality educational opportunity.

Why isn’t Napoleon Area Schools getting as much from the state as other schools around us?

The OSFC calculates a list annually based on a district’s taxable valuation divided by the number of students attending the district. These taxable values continue to include Business Tangible Personal Property Tax which was eliminated several years ago as a source of income for districts. Due to the inclusion of Business Tangible Personal Property values, Napoleon’s district per-pupil valuation is higher than surrounding districts. Consequently, the district’s OSFC (state) share is lower than that of its neighboring districts.

Why can’t we just renovate the buildings we have?

While the district has a history of keeping all of its facilities clean and well maintained, the district’s facilities are at the age that renovating them would not make financial sense. The Middle School, currently 93 years old, would take over 11 million dollars alone to renovate. The three elementary schools are all over 50 years old and would take over 27 million dollars to renovate. Due to the age of the buildings, major roofing, plumbing and heating repairs are needed within the next three to five years. Additionally, as the buildings were built prior to today’s technology and security needs, retrofitting these buildings with technology or appropriate security measures is costly. The High School, based on a study by the Ohio School Facilities Commission is the only building in the district that would qualify for renovation. Based on this study, the local costs for renovation would be 45 million dollars – much higher than the 30 million dollars the proposed renovation/new building costs would be.

Where is the new elementary school going to be located?

The district is negotiating a “First Right of Purchase” option on a 40 acre parcel close to Napoleon High School. The proximity of the parcel would allow the district to operate as a campus.

What will happen to the existing schools?

District representatives have been in discussions with governmental and civic organizations to determine the feasibility of re-purposing some or all of the existing elementary and middle school buildings. The district is also working with civic groups to determine how to best renovate the John L. Johnson auditorium. At this point, however, it is the district’s intention to demolish all three elementary, the John L. Johnson Auditorium, and the middle school should no re-purposing arrangement be finalized.

How will you keep younger students away from older students?

In the proposed elementary building, community and staff would be asked to help design a building that uses physical separation of younger students from older students. As an example, younger grades could be grouped together, and older grades grouped together, with shared spaces (gyms, cafeteria, offices, music and art rooms, etc.) between the groups. At the high school, grade 7 and 8 students would be separated from older students through renovation design and through the scheduling of classes.