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District reviews construction options

Northeastern school board seeks input from the community on plans for new schools.

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By Bridgette Outten, Staff Writer Updated 10:35 PM Thursday, March 18, 2010

HARMONY TWP. — Many of the seats of Northeastern High School’s cafeteria were filled at a special school board meeting Thursday, March 18, as board members sought input from community members about modifications of plans to construct new buildings in the district.

The meeting lasted more than two hours, with district administrators presenting five alternative construction plans for consideration, with no action taken, after voters twice rejected plans to construct two campuses of three buildings each.

“We decided to get together and hear from you, the community,” said district Superintendent Rick Broderick. “We want to know what plans you will support.”

The district has one more opportunity in August to pass a bond issue before it loses 41 percent of the cost of construction from the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission. Taxpayers would only have to come up with 59 percent of the cost. The OSFC gives districts one year to secure approval of the local portion of a funding partnership for new buildings.

Two of the five plans presented Thursday allowed for “segmented construction,” meaning part of the project would be approved and cost less, but administrators would go back to the voters for more money to complete it.

One plan allows for two new high schools, maintaining South Vienna and Rolling Hills elementary schools and moving Northridge Elementary to Kenton Ridge with minor renovations; the other includes one new high school, renovation of Kenton Ridge and maintenance of existing elementary schools as pre-K through sixth grade buildings.

Several attendees questioned the district being able to pass another levy to finish the projects, including Linda Jordan.

“What you’d have is a bunch of half-finished projects all over the district,” she said.

Other plans proposed include:

• Building a new Northeastern High and new elementary schools at Northridge and South Vienna with renovation of Kenton Ridge.

• Two new 7-12 grade buildings and two new pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, one on each side of the district.

• One new 9-12 grade high school and one new 6-8 grade middle school on the same site and three new elementary buildings on existing sites.

PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR NORTHEASTERN SCHOOL DISTRICT BUILDINGS

After voters rejected bond issues twice to fund new buildings in the district, administrators have presented five plans for consideration. If the district doesn’t pass the issue in August, it loses state money to fund new construction.

1) Build two new 7-12 grade high schools*

- move Northridge Elementary (Pre-K-6) to existing Kenton Ridge High School building w/minor renovations

- maintain Rolling Hills Elementary/Middle School (Pre-K-6)

Cost: $60.9 million Local dollars: $35.9 million

2) Build new 7-12 grade building at Northeastern High*

- renovate Kenton Ridge to become 7-12 building and add addition

- maintain existing elementary buildings as Pre-k-6 buildings

Cost: $58.8 million Local dollars: $34.7 million

3) Two new 7-12 buildings

- two new pre-k-6 buildings, one on each side of the district

Cost: $105.7 million Local dollars: $62.4 million

4) New Northeastern High

- renovate 9-12 Kenton Ridge

- build new elementary/middle schools (pre-k - 8) at Northridge and South Vienna

Cost: $104.2 million Local dollars: $61.9 million

5) One 9-12 new high school, one new 6-8 middle school (on same site)

- 3 new elementary buildings on existing sites

Cost: $107.5 million Local dollars: $63.4 million

*Segment building project - Project costs less to get a portion of construction done; voters would have to approve more funds to finish the project at a later date

Source: Northeastern Local School District

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