Woodmore Schools asks for voters' support on upcoming bond levy

Voters of the Woodmore School District will have an opportunity to vote on a. bond issue on Nov. 3 which will help raise funds needed to build a new K-5 elementary building.

The Ohio School Facilities Commission has placed the elementary building and junior high wing at the high school on a list that ranks the district fourth in needs for the entire state of Ohio.

The OSFC will help fund 29 percent of the construction. The total cost of construction is estimated at $25.9 million.

To be eligible for the funding, however, local taxpayers must pass levies to pay for a percentage of the cost. According to Mr. Kevin Slates, the district's treasurer, the bond would generate $19.5 million from taxpayers to be used for construction costs and an additional 0.5-mill property tax that would be used for permanent improvement expenses if the new school were built.

The total mill age for the project comes to 7.47 mills. The bond would be a 37-year commitment. December 2008 marked the final collection date, when voters successfully finished paying on a 19-year bond for the high school building.

If voters approve the bond levy in November, it would cost the homeowner of a $100,000 home $228.77 a year.

According to Mr. Steve Huss, board president, if the levy passes in November, there would be a reduction of 1 mill from the Permanent Improvement levy that voters passed two years ago. The Permanent improvement levy is for repairs needed to the district, some of which include the elementary.

At the Sept. 21 board meeting, a couple of community members voiced their concern towards being assessed another levy for the new construction. A question was raised concerning new building verses making repairs to the existing structures.

According to Mr. Nathan Newenschwander the construction manager hired by OSEC, if the renovation is more than 2/3 of the cost of a new building, then the OSFC recommends that a new building be constructed in other words; the repairs are too costly to justify a renovation of the current elementary building. For example, just to replace the boiler at the elementary, it would cost the district $60 thousand.

Jane Garling, superintendent, said Woodmore Elementary has flooding problems, needs a new boiler and a new roof. An extensive upgrade of the electrical system is also needed.

The district is proposing to replace Woodmore Elementary School in Woodville and the Hetrick wing of the high school in Elmore that houses grades seven and eight. The new school would include pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

The new building would be constructed on property adjacent to the elementary school.

The OSFC, which was established by the state legislature in 1997, uses $4.1 billion that the state received in a settlement of a lawsuit with the tobacco industry to build new schools for Ohio school districts. They will only guarantee their assistance if the levy passes in November.

In August, voters approved a 5.9-mill, 5 -year emergency levy.

The board is letting a 4.9-mill levy expire at the end of the year, hoping this will help offset the taxpayers' increase for a bond issue. The board realizes it is coming to the community once again.

The purpose of the 5.9 Operating Levy passed in August was for operating costs, which include salaries, the electric bills, and gas for busses.

This money cannot be used for construction purposes.