While Troy schools leaders wait for information from the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission (OSFC), they are meeting with staff at each district building to outline the district’s facilities review process.

Superintendent Eric Herman told the board of education during its Nov. 21 meeting staff at each building is hearing about the district’s finances, the OSFC process for funding and plans to collect public input on the future of district facilities next year.

“So far, staff has been receptive,” Herman said.

The district in August kicked off the review process with educational visioning discussions held with more than 30 people.

The second step of more focused discussions on facilities was scheduled to begin in the fall, but was delayed while OSFC conducted its review of facilities and came up with enrollment projections.

Herman said he hopes that information will be available when district representatives meet with OSFC later this week. If so, officials should be ready to “engage with the community a little bit more” after the first of the year, he said.

Board member Tom Kleptz said he attended each of the staff presentations/discussions.

“I think a lot of them would like to see us start tomorrow with whatever we decide. Eric tells them it will take awhile,” Kleptz said.

Herman said the basic message was that the facilities review would not be a simple process. “I share with them that on the board we have our ‘tear them down’ and then we have ‘keep them all.’ I think that will be in every group,” he said.

Among information people may not know about the OSFC process is at least seven acres of land is needed to build a new elementary school, he said.

“We have a lot of things to work through,” Herman said.

Among staff concerns heard was how a facilities project might impact staffing. “It is a concern for some. As Eric pointed out, we are not getting rid of students in this process,” Kleptz said.

“Everybody is trying to figure out how this relates to me. We are just beginning,” Herman said.

People are looking for a plan in the discussions, Kleptz said, adding, “We have been careful not to have a plan. The job is to listen.”