Building in Kettering purchased to house Dayton Regional STEM School

((Contributed by Laurie McFarlin of the Dayton Regional STEM School))

April 13, 2011 – Beavercreek, Ohio – The Dayton Regional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) School and the Dayton/Montgomery County Port Authority today announced the purchase of a vacant building in Kettering, that will be remodeled to permanently house the Dayton Regional STEM School as it continues to expand. The building, located at 1706 Woodman Drive, was previously a Value City furniture store and is adjacent to the Miami Valley Research Park.

The Dayton/Montgomery County Port Authority, through its Regional Bond Fund, provided financing that capitalizes on Qualified School Construction Bond subsidies authorized under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) legislation to help finance the purchase. Since public schools in Ohio are not able to issue a long-term mortgage, the Port Authority is the owner of record. Through a lease, all the rights and responsibilities of ownership are passed to the Dayton Regional STEM School.

“We are pleased to be able to provide the financing for this important regional economic development initiative,” said Jonathon Hollingsworth, chair of the Dayton/Montgomery County Port Authority Board of Trustees. “This is exactly the positive impact and type of project that was envisioned when the City of Dayton and Montgomery County created the Port Authority.”

According to Greg Bernhardt, president of the Dayton Regional STEM School’s Governing Board, “We have been looking forward to this day for quite some time. We are pleased to have found a centrally located building in the Dayton region that can be customized for our purposes as an innovative STEM school. I can’t thank our many partners enough for helping us achieve this big first step.”

“As one of the founding partners for the Dayton Regional STEM School, we at Wright State University are delighted as the school makes this important move in its evolution toward creating a middle and high school STEM campus in the heart of the Dayton region,” said Dr. Charlotte Harris, dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Wright State University.

“It’s my privilege to welcome the Dayton Regional STEM School to the City of Kettering. We anticipate a long-standing and cooperative relationship with the school and look forward to what STEM School students will be contributing to our region in the years to come,” says Kettering Mayor Don Patterson.

Mills Development Companies of Beavercreek has been selected as the developer for the project and anticipates renovation work to begin immediately. The construction company is Synergy Building Systems. The building renovation will be done in phases, with the first phase of construction being completed in time for the Dayton Regional STEM School’s 2011-12 school year start in early September.

Located in Beavercreek, the Dayton Regional STEM School is one of 10 public STEM schools across Ohio, offering students a relevant, real-world educational experience which will prepare them for college and opportunities in the work world—in essence, a springboard for developing and maintaining the Dayton region’s talent base. The school opened in August 2009 with its first class of 9th grade students from across Clark, Greene and Montgomery counties. The Dayton Regional STEM School currently serves 184 students in the 8th, 9th and 10th grades. Annual expansions are planned through 2012, when the school will ultimately serve grades 6-12. Students, parents, educators and businesses may learn more about the Dayton Regional STEM School by visiting the school’s website at: www.daytonstemschool.org or by calling the school at (937) 431-1837. Information about STEM education throughout Ohio is available from the Ohio STEM Learning Network at its website: www.osln.org.

The Dayton Regional STEM School is currently accepting student applications for grades 7, 8, 9 and 10 for Fall 2011. Individuals wishing to attend an information session or school visit are asked to RSVP by calling the school at (937) 431-1837 or by clicking on the RSVP link available on the school’s website (www.daytonstemschool.org).