Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

Celina school project nixed

By William Kincaid
The poor economy has led Celina City School officials to scrap plans for a school construction project anytime soon.
During a school board meeting Monday night, Superintendent Matt Miller said it may be difficult to justify the need for new or renovated school facilities with the many layoffs in the area.
"The need is there. The timing's not right," Miller said.
Miller, with the approval of board members, will defer an offer to come this spring for funding from the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) for a school construction project. This is the second time the school is deferring state money; the first time was in September.
"That's not a decision I want to make on my own," Miller told board members about rejecting the money at this time.
"I'm definitely in favor of deferring," board member Matt Gilmore said.
Other board members also supported the decision.
Miller said state officials are committed to keeping the OSFC money intact for the next few years even as Gov. Ted Strickland prepares to announce major budget cuts across the board.
When asked how many times Celina can defer OSFC funding, Miller replied that school officials will have wiggle room.
Miller and board members on Monday night also canceled the second community engagement meeting scheduled for Jan. 26 to further discuss a school renovation or construction project.
The unofficial word from OSFC was that the state would have funded 44 percent of a school construction/renovation project, leaving taxpayers to fund 56 percent.
Miller said he thinks school officials would have a hard time getting a tax levy passed at the polls due to the economy.
Additional online stories on this date
Pair allegedly robbed Coldwater man at Westown Shell
Two Celina-area men have been charged with robbery in the wake of an incident that occurred Friday afternoon in the parking lot at Westown Shell/Partymart in Coldwater. [More]
COLDWATER - Some parents couldn't hold back tears after receiving a Christmas gift made by their children enrolled in a sixth-grade enrichment class, middle school Principal Jerry Kanney said. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Put down that leftover peanut brittle and head to the gym.
It's time to start training for two upcoming events - the Miami-Erie Canal Triathlon/Duathlon beginning at 40-acre pond near St. Marys on May 24 and the Celina Lakeshore Triathlon/Duathlon on July 12 along the shores of Grand Lake.
ROCKFORD - On the May 5 primary ballot, Parkway school district voters will be asked to renew a permanent improvement levy that is expected to bring in $111,900 per year.
Charges are pending against two area men who allegedly broke into a Rockford home not once but twice Monday.
John Dooley, 19, 9219 Township Line Ro
The Wabash River Conservancy District finished building a 200-feet-long sediment trap on the river just east of the Dull Road bridge on Oct. 13, reported conservancy Secretary Lil Knapke.
The staff of the Mercer County-Celina City Health Department received a 3 percent raise during their regular board meeting last week.
The board approved the action following an executive session on Wednesday.
MARIA STEIN - Rigor and relevance are buzzwords for future curriculum offerings, according to reports presented to the Marion Local Schools board of education Monday night.