By HOLLY GASKILL
Norwell Community Schools unveiled the recent renovations of Ossian Elementary School prior to their regular board meeting on Tuesday.
The “refresh,” as the district has called it, remodeled the vast majority of the building, including restructuring classrooms, replacing flooring, and adding new cabinetry and furniture, among other items. The construction incorporates the new districtwide colors of navy and gold but retains some of the iconic Ossian bear remnants.
Construction began in the spring and was substantially finished before the beginning of school.
Some work will continue through the school year, said Project Manager Dylan Markley of Weigand Construction on Tuesday. Crews will also return next summer to renovate the bathrooms. Board member Gene Donaghy thanked the teachers and students for their flexibility during construction last spring and for continuing to adapt to changes.
OES was built in 1989 and was the second project of a districtwide plan to improve facilities. The board later discussed potential future projects with the pool and weight room or adding inclusive playgrounds.
“The plumbing underneath the pool is kind of a ticking time bomb that I’m a little bit worried about,” Superintendent Mike Springer emphasized. “That’s something that’s going to be a pretty heavy financial need. That’s going to be something you can’t cover out of the operations fund.”
The board had also previously outlined plans to build a new central office building, but Springer said this would be the lowest priority among other projects.
For the district to pursue any of these improvements, it would seek to issue a general obligations bond. Jim Elizondo of Stifel Public Finance explained that the district has some expiring debt in 2025, which could lower the district’s tax rate or allow the district to obtain funding for building projects. The current tax rate is $0.8967 and would decrease in 2025 to $0.79.
“There are so many projects that we want to do to enhance the building and for our students … we just don’t have funding available in the operations fund right now,” advised Deb Adams, the district’s financial services director.
Springer emphasized that this would not mean increasing the tax rate but maintaining the current tax rate.
“When we did all these projects, we did not raise our tax rates,” added board member Corey Krug. “So a lot of people complain, ‘Oh, the school built a new building, and my assessment went up, and I’m paying a lot more to school.’ Your tax rate has not changed.”
The board will discuss the bond issuance, possible future projects and district budget during their next board meeting, 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at Norwell High School. A strategic planning meeting will follow the regular agenda.
holly@news-banner.com
