Marion looking toward future building needs

MARIA STEIN - A Marion Local Schools committee is laying the groundwork to ensure the district's facilities will meet future needs.

One of the options being considered is the construction of a new complex to house an auditorium, gym and ag education space.

In keeping with his years as a high school and college athlete, Marion Local Schools Superintendent Mike Pohlman uses a sports analogy to summarize the committee's approach.

"This is a marathon, not a sprint," Pohlman said of the unofficial motto of a committee established last month. "If we treat it like a sprint, we're going make mistakes. Let's take our time and let's do this right, if in the end, we decide to present this to our community."

The committee is evaluating the district's facilities and hopes to recommend later this school year how to solve any deficiencies, according to Pohlman. The school board will then decide how to proceed with those recommendations, he said.

Over the last six months, according to Pohlman, employees and booster club members have raised the following concerns about the district's facilities: the football locker rooms are too small, restrooms are inadequate for football games, the gymnasium is too small for sports teams and events like school concerts and plays, the district lacks a performing arts center, a combination agriculture lab-classroom is needed, and the band needs a practice field.

"I was receiving all this information with concern after concern with some of our facilities and how they did not serve our students, our community and our visitors adequately," he said. "After having some conversations with the board (of education), we decided to form a committee."

The committee includes representatives from athletic, music and ag booster groups, staff and the board of education. Its members are Dave Moorman, Brenda Schwieterman, Tim Goodwin, Nick Wilker, Kevin Hartings, Heather Cramer, Casey Layer, Kara Uhlenhake, Dan Koenig, Mark Hardesty, Tom Moeder, Trent Huelsman and Pohlman.

The committee has met twice, most recently last week. Members reviewed the problem areas and brainstormed possible solutions but have not yet come to specific conclusions, he said.

"Right now, it's very broad," Pohlman said. "We're working to narrow our focus. We're identifying the issues we're facing and then figuring out some solutions to solve those issues."

He said one possible strategy being considered is to take on one issue at a time, such as building an agriculture lab/classroom, new gymnasium, locker rooms or fine arts auditorium.

But that approach has drawbacks.

"You fix this problem one year and then five years later, you fix another problem," he said. "What happens is you have these small, little buildings all around your whole campus."

Pohlman noted another approach being considered is to construct a single complex that could house an auditorium, gym, ag education space and serve other functions. The district owns 14 open acres, which could be used for a large complex, according to Pohlman.

He said if the district goes the small project route, booster groups likely would conduct fund drives and the board would help finance the project.

Pohlman said building a larger complex would require the board to hire an architect and would also require a voter-approved bond issue.

Committee members and school staff have also visited other districts to see how they have addressed facility issues.

"We're really hitting the road hard," Pohlman said, noting they have viewed facilities at Fort Recovery, St. Henry, Versailles, Fort Loramie and Lake High School near Toledo. More visits are planned in the coming weeks.

The committee wants community input and a public forum is being considered, he said. 

Pohlman outlined the committee's mission in a recent school newsletter but said he hasn't received much feedback.

"I've had some small-talk conversations with people I sit with at basketball games and neighbors," he said. "I can't say anyone has any strong feelings for or against it."