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State commission assessing Poland school facilities
POLAND
As the Ohio School Facilities Commission began its assessment of Poland School District’s facilities Tuesday, some parents are concerned about the possible consolidation of Poland’s elementary schools.
Members of the board of education and Superintendent David Janofa cautioned the community about the issue at a board meeting Monday, saying they are in the beginning phases of assessing school facilities and have not made any decisions about closing any buildings.
“We are in the infant stages of this, doing nothing but data collection,” said Board of Education President James Lavorini, adding that building consolidation is possible but “not at all decided.”
The Ohio School Facilities Commission has hired Hardlines Design Company of Columbus to assess each of Poland’s four elementary schools — Dobbins, Union, McKinley and North — and to collect data on Mahoning County’s population rates to come up with a 10-year enrollment projection for Poland schools.
The commission will get the assessments back from the firm by Oct. 18, Janofa said.
The state then will give recommendations to the school board, which can then act on the report as it sees fit, he said. The assessment is free.
Lisa Gomon, who has two children at Dobbins and one child not yet in school, said her concern is that her kids might end up at different elementary schools, and the logistics of getting to school events at different locations.
She suggested that the board allow parents to be part of a committee involved in the process, something Lavorini said would happen later in the process.
Other parents raised the issue of Poland schools lagging behind in technological improvements while athletic facilities get district funds.
“It’s more important that your kids are developing educationally than that you’re not keeping score at games electronically,” said Jonathan Blumel.
General fund money was recently used to install a new scoreboard at the high-school field at a cost of $115,000, but the board of education and Janofa said it is an investment that will earn $200,000 in advertising dollars over the next 10 years.
Janofa acknowledged that the district is behind in upgrading its technology, saying that it is one of the top priorities of district officials.
“This board is very committed on increasing the use of technology, and integrating it into teaching and learning,” he said.
School officials have yet to decide if students will use computers to complete state testing in the spring.