State approves money for St. Marys, Crestview school projects

LIMA - The Ohio School Facilities Commission approved more than $29 million Thursday for building projects in two area school districts.

As part of the $269 million the state dished out Thursday, St. Marys City Schools received $23.3 million. Crestview Local Schools received $5.9 million.

Construction at both districts is scheduled to be completed in September 2010.

St. Marys is in the midst of a putting up a new sixth- through 12th-grade building and renovating two elementary schools.

Superintendent Mary Riepenhoff said the district had lucked out with bids coming in less than expected, reducing both the state and local share of the project.

The state is still paying 61 percent of the $55 million project. Thursday's contract represents the largest part, Riepenhoff said.

Crestview is in the opening stages of a roughly $15 million renovation project.

Superintendent Mike Estes said crews are working on renovating the second floor of the middle school and adding science labs and a music room.

Estes said the school has several million dollars in other contracts pending commission approval. That's expected in mid-May, he said.

Riepenhoff said footers have been poured at the new school, located north of the city off state Route 66. The pending contracts are for things such as furnishings and landscaping.