Division I regional track finals
Fenwick graduation 2012
Ponitz graduation 2012
Home > Blogs > Greene County News > Archives > 2009 > August > 11 > Entry
Xenia schools officials unveil smaller building plan
XENIA — School board members voted Monday, Aug. 10, to put a smaller tax request before voters in the fall to build and renovate schools, a move officials say is a response to two past defeats at the ballot box.
The plans eliminate a new high school, which Superintendent Jeffrey Lewis said community members made clear they did not feel was needed. The $34.6 million bond request is less than half the size of past requests.
It will be the district’s third trip to the ballot box and strong voter support of a recent operating levy for city services has school district leaders hoping electors will also recognize a need to replace some half-a-century old schools.
The city’s recent 3.5 mill levy won the support of 72 percent of city voters Aug. 4, according to unofficial results from the Greene County Board of Elections. “I think it was a good sign for the city,” said Jeffrey Lewis, superintendent. “People have pride for this town. They don’t want a situation that is dangerous or problematic.”
But if the district’s five elementary school aren’t replaced soon, and with the state’s help, the aging buildings could cost taxpayers serious problems. The buildings roofs, boilers, windows and other infrastructure are on their last legs. “It’s a case of don’t look too close because if you do you’ll see what’s there,” Lewis said.
District members finalized levy plans Monday, for the $34.6 million bond issue, the local share of a $60 million building project, that will be paid for with the help of the Ohio School Facilities Commission. It will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $98 annually.
School officials listened to the past two resounding defeats at the ballot box and responded with a smaller building plan, Lewis said in a Monday news release.
If passed, the new taxes would be collected over a 38-year period beginning after construction on the five schools finishes in 2013. “I can’t look for a better plan to offer for the community,” Lewis said.
Xenia won’t be the only district asking voters to build a new school. Cedar Cliff board members also recently voted to ask voters to approve $13 million, the local share of a $25 million project, to replace a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade building with the help of the school facilities commission.
When Yellow Springs school board members meet Aug. 13, they could approve asking voters to renew a five-year operating levy set to expire.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Xenia
Comments
By Taxpayer
August 11, 2009 12:20 PM | Link to this
How about get bids to do renovations instead? That would be a lot cheaper and you can also add room to an existing building? I bet if some of the administrative staff at the Board took a cut in pay like everyone else is doing that would also generate funds!By Xenia Parent
August 11, 2009 12:39 PM | Link to this
I believe they have already gotten bids for the renovations and it was proven to be cheaper to build new than to keep trying to fix the old buildings. Some of the elementary schools have been around for many many years. It’s time for new buildings for our kids. My kids are not even going to elementary school anymore and I am willing to pay a little extra to get new elementary schools!By aric
August 12, 2009 9:12 AM | Link to this
Yep. The buildings are in bad condition. How can we trust them to take care of the new buildings? they don’t take care of what they have. How about Superintendent Double Dipper (jeff lewis) donating a year of his salary to build to the first building? Then, we’ll think about voting for the levy.By Caesarcreek Twp resident
August 12, 2009 10:19 AM | Link to this
I think voters may be more open to a small levy to repair the 5 elementary’s rather than building new ones. I’ll bet the Superintendent and other board members are the same type of people that go out and buy themselves a brand new car every 2-3 years, because their old one was just WORE OUT with 40,000 miles on it. LOL.By Sick of Levies
August 12, 2009 11:45 AM | Link to this
There’s a slight possibility I would vote for a small levy to make REPAIRS, if the Supt and others would take a pay cut like everyone else has to do. If they had taken care of the schools with past levies,they wouldn’t need to build new. I don’t go out and build a new house every 10+ yrs because it needs repaired!!By likeicarebutido
August 19, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this
Renovate the schools or Go get on that one show extreme homes and maybe they will do one school at a time. You never know till you ask.