Facilities Commission Cites Improvements in 2018 Review

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) received its “2018 Executive Director’s Report” Thursday (10/25/2018), which provided a broad overview of its activities over the past year, highlighting the increase in projects being completed on-time and on-budget.

Commission staff member Jeff Westhoven informed the body that 88.9 percent of projects were on or under budgets, 77.8 percent of projects were on or ahead of schedule and 100 percent of agency facilities have been condition assessed within the past fiscal year, among other positive indicators.

In the Ohio Auditor’s FY17 Report, no negative findings appeared, and the OFCC is currently overseeing more than $2.1 billion worth of projects.

He said 61 percent of Ohio school districts have received interactions from the OFCC, which is a key way new construction projects are affecting Ohioans. He highlighted news clippings lauding new school facilities, and he showed a picture of young students in their new building for the first time, noting a “100 percent smile rate.”

Having happy students can decrease absenteeism rates, he said, which can be improved by modernizing school learning environments.

He added that Ohio is the top state in the nation for its number of environmentally friendly schools, with 321 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified schools. According to Westhoven, schools using the Ohio School Design Manual typically save $100,000 in annual energy costs.

Regarding state services, Westhoven said new energy practices in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and the Ohio Department of Administrative services have saved the state over $50 million annually.

In addition, he said one-of-five Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) dollars is spent towards OFCC projects.

Looking at the recent consolidation of three organizations into the OFCC (formerly the Ohio School Facilities Commission, the Office of State Architect and the Cultural Facilities Grants Program), Westhoven said that was a success as well. He noted a 17 percent reduction in spending on personnel and leased space, an adoption of the best practices of each organization and a streamlined information technology system that allows for quicker processing and completion of contracts.

Also during the meeting, the OFCC approved its “Priority Order of Assistance List” that determines which schools are next in line to receive renovations and it approved a “Master Facilities Plan and Project Agreement” for construction and renovations in Little Miami Local School District. The full cost of that project is expected to be $51.6 million.