Construction is at a stand-still at Washington-Nile School, where issues surrounding state-mandated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) elements have placed the new middle school building project over-budget. Now attorneys working for the school are researching the equity of LEED funding for schools in Ohio; the outcome of which could also affect building projects at New Boston and Clay.

The middle school was accepted by the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) as a special-needs project in 2008 after the district proved its current middle school building — which was built in 1968 and serves grades 6-8 — had significant problems with mold and its structure. Because of the district’s low wealth base, the OSFC agreed to provide 98 percent funding for a new $16 million middle school project. The remaining 2 percent (about $320,000) was paid from the school’s General Fund, without having to ask voters to pass a local tax levy.

As part of the OSFC program, schools are required to meet state-minimum LEED standards, of at least “silver” rating or better. The purpose of LEED is to create an environmentally conscious and energy- efficient buildings.

“We knew a little about LEED. We didn’t know much, so they (the OSFC) educated us and they did a very good job. We bought into that and we designed accordingly. We made sure we had some educational LEED credits,” Washington-Nile Superintendent Patricia Ciraso said.

She explained that while striving to meet these LEED requirements, the school had to give up other features they had hoped to add. By choosing to cut-back on windows, the school had change its lighting system, which means redesigning the entire electrical system — and what they ended up with still was estimated at least $1.2 million over-budget.

During a special school board meeting Wednesday evening, the school took action to reject all bids in preparation to head back to the drawing board once again.

“We were told we were going to have to do value engineering. I hate that word, because when I hear that word I know exactly what they mean. We’re going to cut the guts out of that project. I shared with them, at the time, that I had some deep concerns with that,” Ciraso said. “There’s an ODOT building out on 23, and they throw sand and gravel in that building. If it’s OK to have a nice metal roof and brick building to throw sand and gravel in, are you telling me my kids aren’t worth that?”

The OSFC provides only 3 percent of total project funding for LEED projects, but Ciraso doesn’t believe that’s enough for districts such as hers.

“It might cover it in Columbus, or Cleveland, where you have people that deal with LEED constantly. These contractors down here, this is new to them and they’re going to have to deal with it. They’re probably going to have to bring in some people, or at least have some people trained,” she said.

To help prove the need for greater LEED funding at smaller, isolated districts, the school has retained an attorney in Columbus, with experience in school projects, to research the equity of LEED funding for schools in Ohio. Ciraso said the outcome of this battle could have local impact on LEED funding for school projects at New Boston and Clay also.

“If you are co-funding these projects and you have said silver is the appropriate LEED certification, why would you not want to fund to that level?” she asked.

Rick Savors, chief of communications for the OSFC, said they would certainly listen to the concerns of the school district, and stressed that every district in Ohio has its own unique problems and that 3 percent LEED funding has historically proven just fine. Ciraso responded that she was pleased the OSFC has acknowledged the differences among school districts.

“They mentioned that they are always open to a proposal, and I certainly hope to put a proposal together with our legal counsel to present to them so that our needs can be met. Not our wishes, our needs,” she said.

The OSFC also has pulled project manager Stacy Thomas from the site, after her position was consolidated with another inside the organization. She will be replaced locally, but Ciraso is upset that the district is losing someone whom already has detailed knowledge and understanding of the project and steps the school has taken to meet LEED certification. The departure of such a qualified player, along with what the school considers insufficient LEED funding, could delay the entire project for months.

It’s a fight Ciraso says is necessary to ensure students at Washington-Nile receive the very best.

“We would not have that building without the OSFC, and we want them to know we appreciate that, but we also want them to know ... this is going to have to last us a long time, maintenance-wise and operationally, and we think our kids are worth that just as much as anyone else’s kids,” Ciraso said.

Once either the redesign is complete, or the OSFC provides more LEED funding to negate the need for a redesign at all, the school board will once again advertise to accept bids from contractors hoping to complete the project.

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235, or e-mail rottney@heartlandpublications.com.