More than $100,000 in construction bonuses were approved last week by the Olentangy school board, over the protests of one board member and two candidates vying for board seats in the Nov. 3 election.

In all, $165,000 in bonuses, ranging from $7,500 to $45,000, were paid to eight contractors for the successful and early completion of Freedom Trail Elementary School, which opened this year.

Board member Jennifer Smith made a motion to remove the bonuses from the board's agenda, saying she never received the contract documents stipulating the bonuses be paid. Smith and superintendent Wade Lucas had a lengthy back and forth exchange, after Lucas repeatedly said he had e-mailed Smith the portion of the contract she requested and Smith repeatedly said she never received it.

The bonuses were in the original construction contract approved by the board in May 2008.

According to the district, Smith later e-mailed Lucas to say she had in fact received the contract via e-mail prior to the board meeting, and that it was inadvertently placed in a different folder in her inbox.

The district released Smith's two-sentence e-mail to the media the morning after the meeting.

Smith's motion to pull the item from the agenda was defeated by a vote of a 4-1 with Smith's being the only vote in favor.

The bonuses were also approved by 4-1 vote, but not before a lengthy discussion.

Bonus structure is "one for all and all for one" because if one trade isn't completed, all of the contractors' bonuses are affected, said Andy Kerr, director of facilities.

Similar provisions have been in Olentangy building contracts since at least 1997 when the district's development committee supported their inclusion, Kerr said.

The same provision also is in the construction bid documents which are currently being received for Cheshire Elementary School.

Jay Siefring asked if bonuses are the most prudent use of district resources.

Siefring, who is running for school board, said the board should have a "real discussion" about whether these bonuses resulted in "tangible" benefits.

"If we're giving performance bonuses ... are there specific direct line savings that this district has received in excess of $165,000?"

Patrick Grubbe, who is also running for a seat on the board, encouraged the board to re-evaluate the long-term use of these types of bonuses.

"Fifty-five hundred kids' student fees (for in-classroom supplies) could be covered by $165,000," Grubbe said. "It just takes the courage to have the dialogue and say no once in a while."

The bonuses have been "earned," board member Dimon McFerson said. "These are contracts (approved a few years ago) and at the very last minute to pull the rug out from underneath these people that have worked so hard to get this school ready would be a bad message to send."

In other news, board members and district officials praised staff and students for a record 2008-09 school year.

Olentangy is among the top 7 percent of public school districts statewide, and the top-ranked district in Delaware County, according to its annual report card, which was released Aug. 25.

The report card, released by the Ohio Department of Education for all Ohio public school districts and each school building, again ranked Olentangy as "Excellent with Distinction" - the highest ranking available.

It is the sixth year in a row that the district has achieved the ranking.

The ODE rates schools on a district and building level annually on key measurements including a performance index, and students achieving adequate yearly progress - meaning they learn at least a year's worth of material.

"The Olentangy community expects high academic achievement," Lucas said. "Our students, parents and staff members work together to turn this expectation into a reality. This report card is a validation of these efforts and a reflection of the district's mission 'to facilitate maximum learning for every student.'"

Tom Fry, director of data research and accountability, said the report card ranking is particularly impressive since Olentangy continues to experience high student growth.

Olentangy's performance index score of 105.1 is a district record, Fry said.

The PI is a weighted average of test scores and other data for a districtwide score; the highest possible being a 120.

"I've worked in several other districts and never had a culture like here. ... There are so many people wanting to do the right thing," and teachers and administrators are free to challenge one another and share ideas, Fry said.

Using a soccer reference, board president Julie Wagner-Feasel said the district staff "really kicked it in" last year, especially considering Olentangy was without a permanent superintendent much of the year.

The district's $9,186 cost per pupil is below many of Olentangy's comparative districts, who spend up to $13,000 per pupil, Wagner-Feasel said.

"You're getting a heck of a good deal -- a great product -- and I think that's a well rounded accomplishment."

Report cards can be viewed at www.olentangy.k12.oh.us/district/dra/index.html.