Marion Local Schools partnered with Garmann Miller to present at the Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference in November 2024. The session, “Flipping the Script: How a Community-First Approach Guided Our Facility Plan,” highlighted the district’s journey from an unsuccessful building proposal to a successful community-backed facility plan.

Mike Pohlman (left), Tim Pohlman (right)

Presenters included Superintendent Mike Pohlman and board of education member Tim Pohlman (Marion Local), along with Garmann Miller team members: Monica Bruaw, CPSM, K-12 planner; Matt Hibner, AIA, architect and project principal; and Doug Rentz, CPSM, communication director.

Tim Pohlman, Matt Hibner, Monica Bruaw (left), Doug Rentz (right)

In 2018, Marion Local Schools faced a significant setback when the community overwhelmingly rejected a proposal for a new building. Feedback from residents indicated a feeling of disengagement and a lack of information on the proposed project. Recognizing the need for change, the Marion Local Board of Education partnered with Garmann Miller to develop a transparent, community-centered master facility plan. This yearlong initiative, conducted during the 2022-23 academic year, aimed to create a community-driven plan with no predetermined outcomes, ensuring every voice was heard.

For You, By You: A Collaborative Effort

The solution came through GM’s “For You, By You” planning program, which emphasizes a community-led approach. A volunteer, 41-member facilities task force was formed, consisting of diverse demographics, vocations and ages from the six communities that comprise the district. The farming sector, a significant part of Marion Local’s identity, was well represented.

The task force played a crucial role in setting direction, gathering feedback, acting as community ambassadors and shaping a vision for future growth. This inclusive approach instilled trust, fostered buy-in and ensured that the master facility plan aligned with local priorities. The group emphasized that the school district could no longer rely on a “Band-Aid” approach to address facility needs and improvements.

“It was extremely important for our board of education and administration to gain insight into the facility priorities that our community desired,” Mike Pohlman said. “Garmann Miller’s team implemented its ‘For You, By You’ approach to lead and facilitate a successful planning process with our task force committee.”

Addressing the Challenges

The task force and community engagement activities identified and addressed several critical challenges:

• Increased enrollment: Ensuring facilities can accommodate a growing student population.
• Classroom utilization: Optimizing the use of existing classroom spaces.
• Gym space scheduling: Resolving conflicts and ensuring adequate gym facilities.
• Cafeteria/meal scheduling: Improving scheduling and capacity of cafeteria services.
• Whole Child focus: Enhancing support for special education students and promoting holistic education.
• College Credit Plus course options: Expanding opportunities for students to earn college credits.
• Aging infrastructure and building maintenance needs: Addressing necessary facility updates and long-term maintenance.

To tackle these challenges, several key actions were implemented, including a comprehensive assessment of all facilities, student enrollment projections, classroom space analysis, and an evaluation of gym availability to ensure efficient use of resources.

3D Process: Define, Discover, Develop

Marion Local Schools took a step-by-step approach in its planning journey, using Garmann Miller’s 3D process as a guide. This strategy consists of three key stages—Define, Discover, and Develop—each with a focus on community engagement through collaborative planning. The goal was for the task force to reach a consensus on a facility plan before presenting it to the board of education.

As part of this process, a priority exercise was conducted with both the task force and the broader community, allowing participants to rank various needs and priorities. Based on these rankings, GM facilitated a site master plan activity. Task force members broke into small groups to design site plans with proposed additions, using cutout pieces of buildings and other campus facilities. The group report-outs revealed a range of options and concepts for consideration.

Define
In the initial stage, the task force focused on:

• Sharing hopes, fears, and dreams to establish a strong foundation.
• Prioritizing needs using a garage-sale sticker exercise to highlight the most pressing issues.
• Identifying key wants and needs from district staff, the task force, and the community.

Discover
Next, the team conducted a thorough assessment of the district’s current state by:

• Analyzing existing facilities to understand current conditions.
• Performing enrollment studies to anticipate future student population trends.
• Ensuring curriculum and facilities aligned with educational requirements.
• Evaluating financial constraints and determining the optimal timing for projects.

Develop
The final stage focused on creating and refining facility concepts by:

• Designing various site options with no predetermined outcomes. Garmann Miller created a Design Option Summary Matrix, outlining square footage, costs, and educational spaces.
• Aligning plans with budgetary constraints to ensure feasibility.
• Continuously incorporating community feedback through multiple engagement efforts, including a community meeting attended by over 600 Marion Local residents.

The Outcome

The result of investing in GM’s ‘For You, By You’ process was a master facility plan that truly reflected the community’s needs. This collaborative effort led to the successful addition of nine new classrooms, a new gym, and vo-ag lab space for Flyer students.

“Garmann Miller’s expertise in the master planning process allowed the board to see the short-term needs and also the potential future needs,” Tim Pohlman said. “This put us at ease by eliminating the ‘what if’ thoughts and allowed us to confidently inform our district.”

The community-driven approach paved the way for a significant achievement for Marion Local Schools. By prioritizing community input and truly listening to stakeholders, the district has laid a strong foundation for future growth and success.