NILES Officials tour schools to assess district need

A grant from the facilities commission is funding the bulk of the district's new middle school project.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- School district officials are optimistic after a visit from state officials about completing more building projects through an Ohio Schools Facilities Commission program.
Representatives from the commission visited each of the school buildings, except Edison Junior High School, last week.
The commission representatives were touring the buildings to determine if the district qualifies for the commission's expedited local partnership program.
They spent the first day at the high school, the second at Washington and Lincoln Elementary and the third day at Bonham, Garfield and Jackson Elementary, said Superintendent Patrick Guliano.
What's behind this: Jeff Tuckerman of the facilities commission said the expedited local partnership program involves an assessment of the district. If the assessment team determines that the district qualifies, the district may select a project and complete it using local money.
When the district's turn comes up on the eligibility list of all school districts in the state, the district may be reimbursed by the state for that project.
Niles isn't eligible for funding for several years, according to the ranking list, which is based on property valuation per pupil.
"Anything they want to give us will be well accepted," Guliano said, adding that he's optimistic about the district's prospects.
Guliano expects to hear from the group within two months about how Niles fared.
"I'm very optimistic that something is going to come from it," said Nick Bernard Sr., school board member, who also accompanied the group on the tour.
Being replaced: The 88-year-old Edison Junior High School already is being replaced with a $14 million new middle school building in Brynhyfryd Park.
A grant from the facilities commission is paying for the bulk of the project and the district sold bonds to borrow $5.88 million to provide the local match. The new middle school project came under a different program through the commission.
Voters passed a bond issue in November 1999 to pay the local match for the middle school project.
"Their biggest concerns were with leaking, plumbing, inadequate handicapped access and a lack of space for technology," Bernard said.
Other buildings: Garfield Elementary School on the city's south side is the district's oldest building, built in 1905. Three newer sections were added in more recent years.
Washington Elementary School was built in 1924 with Bonham, Lincoln and Jackson elementary schools and McKinley High School built in the late 1950s or early 1960s, Bernard said.
"The school board is really concerned about our buildings," he said.