By Mike Presta

The Facilities Committee of the Middletown City School District (MCSD) met Thursday evening for the first time since they sent their recommendations to the School Board last March.

George Long, the new business manager for the MCSD, introduced himself to the group, briefly summarized his past experience, and explained that the MCSD shares his services with the Monroe School District.

After a quick recap of the committee’s past work, Long explained that the MCSD School Board will be preparing to consider planning for the implementation of the middle school and high school portions of the facilities program, hence the reconvening of the Facilities Committee to assist with that effort.

Future agenda items might include: discussing funding options; potential partnerships for outside funding; the engagement of an architectural firm and a construction management firm; phasing of construction for the high school remodeling and construction; and the formation of subcommittees for some items.

A brief discussion of the timeline ensued.  While the exact date cannot be ascertained due to the number of variables in the Ohio School Facilities Commission’s system, Middletown’s “number may come up” as soon as three years from now or as late as seven.  One milestone may be to supply any information or input that the Board may need or request to make a decision by the end of January, 2013 if they want to put a levy issue on the ballot in May, 2013.

Twelve community members of the Facilities Committee were in attendance in addition to Mr. Long, Ms. Carmela Cotter (Principal, Middletown High School), and two representatives from Fanning & Howey, a consulting firm that has been aiding the work of the Facilities Committee.