The Troy City Schools want to have a talk with district residents.

Among topics for discussion: should the district build new schools or fix up what it has with added permanent improvement money?

Those discussions would require a look at issues such as continuation of the neighborhood schools approach, consolidation, all day kindergarten and whether the district would pursue construction assistance dollars from the Ohio School Facilities Commission, Superintendent Eric Herman said during a Dec. 3 board meeting.

“We want to at least take the conversation to the community,” he said.

The board agreed, supporting initially a request to gather names of community members who might be willing to help explore options as an advisory board.

The district has an operating renewal levy on the ballot in March. It then won’t have an existing tax issue before voters until 2019 when a 1.1-mill permanent improvement levy would expire.

The time in between could be used for the discussion and possible proposal for a request for dollars for facilities in 2017.

“We are saying we have a window” but also a lot to consider and discuss in coming months, said board President Doug Trostle.

Part of the discussion was sparked by the recent completion of a facilities assessment of mechanical, electrical and plumbing needs by consultants from SHP of Cincinnati. Renovation of those features of all district buildings would cost an estimated $50.9 million, according to an analysis summary report.

Along with that, the buildings’ five-year plans outlining repairs and replacements that are “have to” items shows the $680,000 generated each year by the permanent improvement levy can’t get everything listed done, Herman said. The five-yearplan, he said, “is not glamorous … is not a wish list.”

The district’s oldest school building, Van Cleve, is more than 100 years old. The newest building was the junior high in 1972. There have been additions and renovations at the buildings over the years.

Trostle said he supports the neighborhood schools concept. Fellow board member Joyce Reives said, “I agreed but we could have fewer.” Herman said putting some schools together would make more sense financially.

“There are some things that are going to take time to talk through,” he said. “People in Troy like their schools, are traditional.”

Board member Ginny Beamish said it is important to “hear what the community has to say.”

“We have to have some vision out there, and let it evolve,” Trostle said.

Board members discussed the school locations, how full they are today and those where expansion would be possible (such as the high school).

Herman said the Dec. 3 discussion was designed to plant seeds for more in-depth exploration of options.

As it moves forward, the board will need to decide if it will want consultants to help coordinate discussions and efforts such as focus groups. SHP provided a proposal for consideration and several other companies offer similar services, Herman said.