Following months of negotiations, Governor Bob Taft, and U.S. Senators Mike DeWine and George Voinovich announced today that an agreement in principle has been reached between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the River Valley Local School District, and the State of Ohio to relocate the district's high school and middle school and develop the property for industrial use. 

"For months the State has been working with the Corps and Senators Voinovich and DeWine to craft a solution to the very complex situation in Marion," said Governor Taft. "With this agreement, River Valley students and families will receive a new school facility and the community will have a significant tract of land available for industrial development." 

Senators DeWine and Voinovich will seek funding in the armed services budget that enables the Corps to pay $15 million toward replacement of the schools. The agreement is contingent on the passage of the legislation by Congress. In addition, the agreement will have to be approved by the River Valley Board of Education.

"I am pleased that the good faith negotiations of the Army, State of Ohio, and the River Valley Schools led to this win-win solution to relocate the school and recover the land for potential industrial development," said Senator Voinovich.

The cost of cleaning up the property so that the schools could remain in place has been estimated at approximately $31 million. In addition, the schools would have to be temporarily relocated during the cleanup at a cost of $13.5 million, bringing the Corps' total cost to $44.5 million. With the agreement in place, the Corps would clean up the property to an industrial/commercial standard at a cost of $5-10 million, in addition to $15 million toward the schools' construction costs.

Senator DeWine said, "My primary concern is insuring the health and safety of the students who attend school at River Valley. Those of us on Capitol Hill have worked to include language in the Defense Authorization bill that would give the Army the financial flexibility to work with the State of Ohio and the River Valley School District to relocate the school. This is the right thing to do for these children and their families and I will continue to work to see that this gets done." 

Governor Taft praised Ohio EPA Director Chris Jones for negotiating the agreement on behalf of the state. "Director Jones' dedication and tenacity, and his mastery of the many complex issues, was crucial to forging this agreement. He's done a great job and deserves the praise of all the parties involved," said Governor Taft.

The governor also commended Ohio Department of Health Director J. Nick Baird, M.D., who has surveyed and monitored the potential health risks involved in the location of the school on the former military site. He said that Dr. Baird and Director Jones have carefully studied the River Valley situation "and believe that students and faculty are safe but that the site does need a substantial clean-up." The two directors have agreed that converting the River Valley site to industrial/commercial use should not occur while the schools are in session.

Governor Taft said that in addition to the $15 million from the federal government, he has asked the Ohio School Facilities Commission to approve the state's normal share of new school construction in the River Valley district as provided by law and the school construction funding formula. These funds are estimated at approximately 21 percent, or roughly $4.7 million, of the $20-25 million estimated replacement cost for the two schools. The district would not receive funds from the Commission beyond those for which it is eligible under the formula or by law. A bond levy will also have to be approved by the voters. 

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