Johnson Elementary School is hosting a construction project
town hall on Sunday, January 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium and inviting
legislators, parents, teachers and city stakeholders to discuss the progress of
the project.
District stakeholders have been diligently attempting to
secure funding for a new Johnson Elementary School, which is one of the most
obsolete facilities in the Commonwealth. Senator Wil Schroder, Representative
Joe Fischer and representatives from the district and Fort Thomas Education
Foundation will provide an update on efforts to get funding, share information
about what a new school would look like and answer questions.
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“We are doing everything we can to obtain funding for
Johnson Elementary,” said Superintendent Dr. Karen Cheser. “We are in one of
the most antiquated facilities in the Commonwealth and still our students and
staff continue to demonstrate excellence. We are getting creative and talking
with decision-makers daily, to make this a reality for these students. They
deserve everything we’ve got.”
Johnson Elementary Principal, Ashley Dikeos, said that she
is happy excited for the chance to engage the community in the discussion.
“I hope to the town hall allows us to accomplish clarity and
to build excitement for the possibility of a new Johnson school for our
students,” she said. “I’m glad the
opportunity has arrived for us to share the steps that have been taken
regarding this project, as well as allow for the chance to have any questions
answered.”
For Johnson, the challenges are large. Chief among the
concerns with the building are that the school just isn’t big enough, modern
enough and annual repair costs are exorbitant.
The enrollment currently sits at 459 students, with a
capacity of 400. There are three unattached buildings, built in 1922, the 1950’s
and the 1970’s, which make it necessary for whole classes to move about buildings
during the school day. The annual repair
cost of existing structures to mitigate safety and security risk is two times
the annual state average.
Currently there are shovel-ready plans into which the
district has invested heavily, however even with the district maximizing their
bonding capacity, allocating a large portion from the general fund and
stakeholder contributions, there is a $16 million funding gap.
Simply, Fort Thomas Independent Schools has no alternative
funding sources for this project.
Sen. Schroder said that while this year’s budget is going to
be extremely difficult, he continues to hear concerns from the parents in his
district.
“When touring Johnson back in August, Senate President
Robert Stivers and I were able to see firsthand the problems of the current
building.”
Likewise, Rep. Fischer, has said it has been an ongoing
concern for his constituents.
“I have been hearing about funding for Johnson since I first
made it to Frankfort. It’s a worthwhile cause and something I feel strongly about
trying to progress forward.”
Schroder said that he has yet to see the Governor’s proposed
budget, but once he does he will have a better idea of how much funding school
construction will receive.
“In the meantime, I will continue to work with
Superintendent Karen Cheser and others on trying to increase our chances of
getting assistance."
To submit a question for the town hall, please do so in advance. Submit questions to karen.cheser@fortthomas.kyschools.us or andrea.tekulve@fortthomas.kyschools.us.
To submit a question for the town hall, please do so in advance. Submit questions to karen.cheser@fortthomas.kyschools.us or andrea.tekulve@fortthomas.kyschools.us.
This glaring disconnect between the current Johnson facilities and its students’ abilities has been among the greatest needs of this District and community for nearly two decades, but the powers that have been have heretofore always allowed everyplace else to come ahead of the first and only two time National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in the District.
ReplyDeleteIneptitude in Frankfort and inaction within the District has relegated Johnson to being nowhere on the General Assembly’s funding radar screen, despite the longitudinal nature and magnitude of the need for state funding.
While serving as a Board Member from 2007-2014, I served as Chair of the Funding Task Force, (disbanded in 2015 by the current Board) in order to persistently beat the funding drum on facilities, (the entire District, except for HMS, needed to be replaced then) as well as the urgent need to legally challenge the legitimacy of the $3.2 million annual District operating funding shortfall of “adequate and equitable” state funding that is un-Constitutionally withheld from Fort Thomas by Frankfort every year.
It is gratifying to finally see forces, including the Foundation and Representative Fischer, gathering critical mass and momentum to right the horrendous wrong of the current state to which the Johnson campus has been relegated by virtue of collective negligence.