OXFORD, Ohio — The roof leaks at Maud Marshall Elementary School, and that’s not all that's wrong. There are problems with the electricity, plumbing and even sewers, said principal Chad Hinton.
“There were times when we had to close down restrooms because the pipes were clogged,” Hinton said.
Hinton, principal there for 15 years, calls it “the reality of a 50-year-old building.”
That’s why many people in the Talawanda School District are anxious to get construction started on a new school building, with only the 15-year-old gym to remain.
But the project keeps getting delayed.
Superintendent Dr. Edward Theroux says they are still tweaking the design. Bids have not gone out.
“We are a little bit nervous that the bids could come in higher than they’re anticipated or have planned for it because the cost for labor and materials have recently gone up,” Theroux said.
Safety concerns also stopped the project in its tracks.
“There were some safety concerns with the original design, so our board of education decided and approved an additional $500,000 from our own funds to address those safety concerns,” Theroux said.
The school district is investing $8 million and the state will provide $3 million, the superintendent said.
Officials hope there will be no more delays so they can break ground in October.
