By 1812Blockhouse
Ontario Local Schools will ask voters this year to decide the future of its buildings. On January 13, the Ontario Board of Education approved a resolution placing a school renovation issue on an upcoming ballot. The proposal follows nearly three decades of waiting for state assistance through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, commonly known as the OFCC.
The OFCC oversees school construction and renovation programs across Ohio. The agency was created after a 1997 Ohio Supreme Court decision found the state’s school funding system unconstitutional. Since that time, districts have been placed on an eligibility list for state support based on need and available funding. Ontario was notified in July 2025 that it had reached eligibility.
What the State Review Found
Before any funding is offered, the OFCC requires a detailed assessment of district buildings. Teams of architects and engineers visited each Ontario school to evaluate heating systems, electrical capacity, roofs, plumbing, technology infrastructure, and overall site conditions. They also reviewed enrollment trends to determine how buildings will be used in the future.
The resulting report estimates that Ontario schools need about $57 million in renovations. The largest single expense would be replacing heating systems in all buildings at a projected $17.7 million. Electrical upgrades across the district are estimated at $6.3 million, and technology improvements at $4.2 million. Other items include $1.2 million for a roof at Stingel Elementary, $1.1 million for plumbing work at Ontario Middle School and Ontario High School, $1.5 million for site improvements, and $3.3 million for general interior finishes.
District officials note that many of these needs are not visible to the public. The plumbing in the middle and high school buildings dates to the 1960s, and much of the mechanical equipment is nearing the end of its expected life span. Day-to-day upkeep by custodial and maintenance staff has kept buildings functioning, but the larger systems cannot be repaired indefinitely.
State Partnership and Local Cost
If voters approve the issue, the OFCC would contribute $19,078,736 toward the project. The remaining share would be paid locally through the ballot measure. State rules require districts to complete the full list of recommended renovations in order to receive the funding, rather than selecting only certain projects.
Supporters of the plan argue that accepting the state partnership allows Ontario to address long-term needs with significant outside help. Without the OFCC program, the district would still face the same repairs but would likely need to seek local funding in stages and without state participation. Others in the community are weighing the impact of additional taxes and whether the proposed work reflects the most urgent priorities. The ballot will give residents the final say on how to proceed.
What Comes Next
In the months ahead, the district is expected to hold public meetings and share more detailed information about the scope of work and the financial implications for homeowners and businesses. The renovation proposal will appear on the ballot later this year, giving Ontario voters the opportunity to decide whether to move forward with the OFCC partnership or pursue a different path for maintaining the schools.
For now, the board’s action sets the stage for a community conversation about aging buildings, state assistance, and the future of education facilities in Ontario.
Image by izhar ahamed from Pixabay
