ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP —
Buckeye Local Schools will seek voters’ approval of a 5-mill bond issue to build two new schools.
Board of Elections Director Duane Feher confirmed that, on Tuesday, the district filed to be on the Nov. 8 ballot. The board held a special meeting Monday night to take up the resolution, and Buckeye Superintendent Nancy Williams said the board approved the measure 5-0.
“They pretty much jumped in and voted on this one,” Williams said.
The district will ask voters to give the district $25,350,000, plus interest, for 36 years. The county auditor certified that, based upon the current valuation, 5 mills, or 50 cents per $100 of valuation, will be required annually.
The money will be used to construct a new middle school on the Edgewood Senior High campus and an elementary school at Kingsville. Three buildings — Braden Junior High and North Kingsville and Kingsville elementaries — will be leveled.
The board relied upon citizen input that was gathered during a series of community dialog meetings facilitated by the district’s architect, Fanning Howey, in deciding the configuration of district buildings. The two-phase plan calls for renovation of the existing high school and Ridgeview Elementary, but the district does not have enough debt capacity to handle both phases at once.
The board, based upon input from citizens, decided to reject state assistance with the projects. Buckeye has a low priority on the Ohio School Facilities Commission’s waiting list. The state assistance could be quickly offset by inflation as a result of waiting years to qualify. Further, by not accepting state assistance, the district has greater flexibility in designing and building the new schools.
A series of special meetings and votes on groundwork resolutions preceded the meeting Monday night. During prior meetings, several board members expressed concern about the timing of the levy, given the weak local economy and sagging prospects for recovery from the recession. Citing those concerns, member Gregory Kocjancic last week voted against a resolution to seek certification of the millage, but later said he would honor whatever the board’s sentiment is toward asking voters to support the issue.
Williams said the next step will be to form a citizens bond committee to take on the task of selling the issue to voters. The initial meeting is planned for the week of Aug. 22, but at this point no one has stepped forward to chair or co-chair the committee.
Persons interested in being involved in the committee should call Williams at 998-4411.
Local News
Buckeye board votes to place bond issue on ballot
- Local News
-
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
The Buckeye Local Board of Education will conduct interviews with six superintendent hopefuls next week, said Board President Jacqueline Hillyer.
-
Shooting suspect to be tried as adult
A 17-year-old will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday after hearing a sheriff’s deputy describe how the teen wore a T-shirt with the word “Killer” and admitted shooting people.
-
Ohio EPA takes AIM at site of hazardous wastes
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency staff members returned this week to the site of the now-bankrupt Ashtabula Iron and Metal on West 30th Street to take samples of the unknown liquids and analyze hazardous wastes, asbestos and other potential health and environmental concerns.
-
Commissioners look at selling nursing beds
Commissioners have retained the services of a law firm that specializes in the sale of excess nursing home beds as the board looks at ways to raise additional revenues.
-
Conneaut looks at demolition funds
The city is making preparations to secure its share of nearly $692,000 in demolition funds expected to be Ashtabula County’s portion of a multi-billion dollar settlement with national mortgage lenders.
-
Volunteers get more help than needed at rescue spot
Despite their good intentions, Edward and Mary proved more hindrance than help to the Conneaut KeyBank employees lending a helping hand Thursday to a farm animal rescue operation in Kingsville Township.
-
220 graduate at Lakeside
Thursday night was a time of pomp, circumstance and smiles as 220 seniors graduated from Lakeside High School.
-
Lost money?
There is no map, and “X” may not mark the spot, but hundreds of Ashtabula County residents may have unclaimed cash ready and waiting for them through the Ohio Department of Commerce.
-
Lane to be tried as adult in Chardon High shooting
A 17-year-old boy will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday.
-
Happy Hearts School holds commencement for its Class of 2012
As commencement exercises go in Ashtabula County, the one at Happy Hearts School was small, with just five students.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
