HEREABOUTS beth anspach
When Bill Hibner ran for the school board five years ago, he knew the community had been struggling for years with the issue of new school construction.
“About nine years ago, there was a proposal made to the voters to build an entirely new school campus, Hibner said. “It was defeated several times, mainly because of the increased tax burden.”
But as a parent of four children who were educated in the Vandalia-Butler schools and a concerned community member and businessman, Hibner knew the need for school building improvements and replacements was vital to the continued success of the school district. Owner of Hibner and Associates, a construction management company, and a resident of Vandalia for 20 years, Hibner also knew he would be an asset to the school board, and after his family and friends encouraged him to run, he did just that, hoping to make a difference for the schools.
Now serving his second year as school board president, Hibner has been focusing on the needs of the school buildings since his election
“The Ohio School Facilities Commission did a study several years ago and determined that the 90-year-old Morton couldn’t be renovated and should be replaced,” Hibner said. “We ended up having two independent groups look at the schools and give recommendations.”
Out of these reports came a new strategic plan for the district from the board.
“The priorities listed in the plan were new and renovated buildings, staff development, student achievement, financial management and communication,” Hibner said.
Money would still obviously be needed to fund the renovations and construction. Knowing that the community would likely not support new taxes, a levy was put on the ballot in November 2008 that would replace tax money that was being filtered into an emergency maintenance fund.
“There would be no tax increase,” Hibner said. “And the same, money would then be used to construct the new schools.”
According to Hibner, the community strongly supported the levy. “At some point, it’s like when you decide to buy a new car,” Hibner said. “You can either keep pumping money in for repairs or just replace it.”
After years of anticipation, the schools project has begun, with Butler High School students finishing out this school year in modular classrooms behind the building. “A large part of the high school will be demolished with only the newer north wing being renovated,” Hibner said.
Morton Middle School will be demolished once the new school, to be located at the corner of Stonequarry Road and Peters Pike, is completed. The land for the new school was acquired after a swap was made with the city, which will own the land on which Morton Middle School now sits.
“People are very excited about the project,” Hibner said. “Especially the middle and high school students who will be attending state of the art schools. Seeing new schools built was one of my goals when I joined the school board. It’s been a collaborative effort on the part of community, teachers, school board, and the people who participated in planning. Vandalia is great community and very supportive and we are thrilled.”
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