Officials of Cincinnati Public Schools must consider if at least $185 million in state aid for school construction is worth replacing, demolishing or selling the majority of district buildings and losing some local decision-making power.

        Under a program run by the state since 1997, the Ohio School Facilities Commission will contribute a portion of aid — 23 percent for CPS — for a construction and renovation project designed to bring all the district's school buildings up to state standards.

ABOUT COMMISSION

The Ohio School Facilities Commission was established in May 1997.     Its mission is to provide funding, management oversight and technical assistance to Ohio school districts for the construction and renovation of school facilities in order to create an appropriate learning environment.     The commission spends about $1.75 million a day on facilities improvement projects for school districts across the state.

        In December, CPS will unveil a project to refurbish or replace all 76 schools that is estimated to cost up to $900 million, said district spokeswoman Jan Leslie.

        The district is already getting about $10 million in annual funding for 20 years from deals with the county and city when Paul Brown Stadium was built and will receive an undetermined amount when the Great American Ball Park is completed in 2003. Voter approval for a bond issue, however, is still needed.

        The state assistance would be welcome, Ms. Leslie said.

        But some board of education members and parents are shocked that they cannot decide which buildings they want to keep if they expect to reap the state's money.

        They worry that receipt of state aid could mean demolishing, selling or replacing most of the district's 76 buildings. After assessing the district's buildings, the state determined that 61 buildings should be replaced or torn down instead of renovated. The district could also sell them.

        Board member Harriet Russell said the district could lose local control of its facilities improvements if the state requires CPS to adopt all its recommendations.

        Ms. Russell and board member Florence Newell said the board, the administration and the state will have to seek community input.

        “Twenty-three percent is a lot of money,” Ms. Newell said. “But our decision cannot be driven by 23 percent.”

        Schools such as Sayler Park Elementary, Parham, Hyde Park Elementary and Woodward High School are among the schools the state has said should be replaced or demolished. The state suggests replacing a building if the cost to renovate exceeds 66 percent of the cost to rebuild.

        While districts can contest the state's assessment or ask for a waiver so a building can be saved, state officials say the reason to preserve an outdated building would have to be “fairly compelling.”

        That's because the state wants to ensure that every Ohio student has access to quality school buildings, said Alan Foust, project administrator for the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

        “What the commission provides is an equitable school for all students in the state,” Mr. Foust said. “We don't do Band-Aid fixes. We do comprehensive building packages.”

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