Johnstown, other school districts prepare for growth with $20 billion Intel project

JOHNSTOWN — Excitement, but more than a little uncertainty.

Before news of the new computer chip operation in western Licking County became official last Friday, school officials from Johnstown and neighboring districts had mixed feelings, about how those schools would be affected moving forward.

Intel announced plans to begin construction this year on a $20 billion computer chip operation in Jersey Township, providing 3,000 jobs when production begins in 2025. It could possibly become the largest semiconductor production site in the world. The project is also expected to create 7,000 construction jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs.

"It's very exciting, but it's kind of bittersweet. Johnstown is a special place, with special character and history that we would love to preserve," said Johnstown superintendent Dale Dickson, whose district covers the 3,190 acres to be annexed by New Albany for Intel. "We want to maintain what we have, but with that growth, we hope it is more of a controlled growth. It can be a very good thing for our community, but there's a lot of work to be done."

"We don't know how much growth is coming, and where exactly on that acreage is it going?" Johnstown school board president Tim Swauger said. "We've had a good relationship with New Albany, and future housing also affects the city of Johnstown. They are our partners as well."

Ruth Ann Booher, school board member, said a lot of questions remain to be answered.

"We don't know which families will or will not be displaced, or how many it will affect. It's a mystery," she said. "Does it stop with 3,190 acres?"

"I don't want to lose our farmland, but realize that progress is inevitable," she added.

Dickson said now more than ever, the district needs to maintain its revenues to offset an expected increase in operational costs.

"More kids mean more teachers, more space and could mean more buses and food service," he said. "Everything comes with a cost. We do not want to go back to our taxpayers for any additional operating funds beyond the current support they are providing us, through the 1% income tax (renewed every 5 years) and one emergency levy (renewed every 5 years) currently being utilized."

Johnstown student enrollment had already been rising, as new homes are being built to accommodate people who want to live in a rural area with strong schools to raise their children. "With the numbers we've seen from hospitals, 2025, five years out from COVID, will be a big kindergarten class," Dickson said. With the chip operation, enrollment could explode.

Licking Heights Superintendent Philip Wagner said the development brings a tremendous education opportunity to the area. The first chips are expected to be produced by 2025, giving area high schools and colleges time to ready curriculum that will prepare students for employment, he said.

The district prepares students to attend a four year college, receive another form of secondary education at a two-year college or job training program, or to immediately enter the workforce or join the military, Wagner said.

"We still have those three avenues. This just changes a bit and as Intel and some of the other companies we work with in the (corporate) park tell us they have other needs, then we’re working with them now," he said. "This will allow us to tailor our future education plans as well as in each of those three tracks."

Along with Johnstown, Licking Heights also anticipates the development will have an impact on enrollment, Wagner said. The district is already growing fast. The district had 1,984 students in 2004 and prior to the Intel announcement projected to have more than 6,000 students by 2029. Wagner said the district will work with its outside partners to update enrollment models. Heights covers area just south of the proposed development.

But Wagner said school administrations are becoming more and more nimble at adjusting to the world around them, and continued growth is one of them.

"I think there are some challenges there, but we’re up for the challenge," he said. "We’ve always been able to respond to needs of the community, so I’m looking forward to it."

Brian Wilfong, public relations and marketing coordinator, said he's excited that C-TEC of Licking County will be heavily involved in different phases of the Intel operation.

"In the short term, with the building phase of the project, our involvement will most likely be in that we expect to have alumni who will be employed in getting this factory built and running, with construction, electrical, etc.," he said.

"We partner with Grow Licking County, our Adult Education Director is on their board, and we expect to continue working with them, especially in regard to this new opportunity," Wilfong added. "Once the factory is up and running, there will be much manufacturing, automaton, and other needs, and as the local training center in the county, C-TEC expects to be engaged and involved in helping with training needs and in providing the needed workforce."

Although the development is outside the boundaries of New Albany-Plain Local Schools, it's too early to know to what extent, if any, it will have on the district's enrollment, according to Patrick Gallaway, the district's communications director.

"This won't expand our district boundaries," he said. "It could impact our student enrollment, but we have not learned of any developments within our boundaries that imply a drastic increase beyond what is projected. As a district, we will work with the city of New Albany as this project moves forward to better understand potential enrollment impact."

Northridge Local Schools also borders on the 3,190 aces.

"We will not be affected, as far as any school funding," superintendent Scott Schmidt said. "But with the expected annexation, it will only spur more growth, which at some point will have an impact on Northridge."

Maria DeVito and the Columbus Dispatch contributed to this story.

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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Johnstown, Licking County schools prepare for Intel growth