November 3 , 2022 The Beacon • 15
Bill could offer help for rural schools
By Jen Jones
According to an Oct . 24 press release , Reps . Jay Edwards and Shane Wilkin announced the introduction of the Accelerated Appalachian School Building Assistance Program ( House Bill 733 ) in the Ohio House of Representatives .
This bill would create an Ohio Facilities Construction Commission program for public school districts in Appalachian Ohio that have not gone through the OFCC construction process yet .
“ This is a historic day . This is getting Appalachia caught up to what urban schools have had since 2000 ,” Edwards said . “ This isn ’ t just about schools and our children . This is a burden to taxpayers . This is reducing the burden for our local taxpayers .”
The Accelerated Urban Program has produced 250 new school buildings for six urban districts over the past 20 years . Because of this program , the state has invested about $ 10,000 more per student in urban schools than in rural Appalachian buildings . It limits the eligibility to districts with full or partial residency in one of Ohio ’ s 32 counties federally designated as Appalachian .
Locally , this could have a huge impact on River View Local School District .
“ River View is one of 38 districts to never take OFCC money to build a school building ,” Superintendent Charles Rinkes said . “ If the bill , as it is written , becomes law , we would receive an extra 20 % incentive to pass a bond issue to build a
new school or refurbish two buildings . At this time our state share with the OFCC is 16 %. So our taxpayers , including me , would pick up 84 % of the cost of a new build .
“ If the law passes , that incentive kicks in , and our voters would pay 20 % less money . Again , it ’ s an incentive from the state to pass a bond issue to put students in new buildings . That would be the best position our district has ever been in to build a new building , and our board of education is going to have to look at it very closely to decide if running a bond issue is the right thing to do .”
Rinkes said the district would need to file paperwork for the OFCC to be considered for money .
“ Every school is ranked with the OFCC , and you have to apply and let them know you
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“ There are many bills that never leave the floor , but I do think this one has a lot of traction with Appalachian school districts and legislatures . CORAS , Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools , and our advocacy group , Sunday Creek , have been a big part of why we are even talking about this . I am sure we will continue to advocate for the bill to become law , and then RVLSD along with many other districts will have to decide if they want to run a bond issue in the future .”
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