“We would encourage our community to come out and learn more,” Superintendent John Kronour said. “We have had good participation so far.”
MORE: Northeastern board members debate $100M new school plans
Northeastern, the second largest district in Clark County, has placed a bond issue on November’s ballot asking voters to approve a 7.93 issue that would collect about $77 million. The district wants to build two new pre-k through 12th-grade buildings in the district. One school building will be built close to where Northeastern is and the other close to where Kenton Ridge is. The cost to taxpayers that own $100,000 property will be $295 a year, which is a little less than $25 a month.
The Ohio Facility Construction Commission has pledged $40 million if the bond passes, which means the total cost of the school is projected to be $117 million.
“I don’t want to say this is a wrap-up but it is an opportunity to hear more information,” he said. “We would love to see as many people there as possible.”
MORE: Northeastern residents debate $100M school plan
At the forum on Sept. 26, school leaders are expected to announce the locations where they plan to build the schools. However, those plans are temporary because in-depth research needs to take place before the final purchase, and that research can only be done after the bond issue passes, Kronour said.
“I can’t say it is an absolute because we are still evaluating those sites for purchase,” he said.
He said the forum will be a chance for voters to ask questions to learn more about the levy and why school leaders believe it is a good idea for the district.
“We are trying to share as much information that we can and also plan on opening it to the community to ask questions,” he said. “Obviously, we can’t change what is going to be on the ballot in November but we can explain and answer how decisions were made and what’s on the ballot.”
EXTRA: Clark County voters to pick several school board seats
The Northeastern Local Board of Education has debated for over a year about the future of the district and its buildings. All board members agreed that there is a need for new schools as the current ones are aging and don’t have the electrical infrastructure the district needs to keep up with technology. However, there were questions about whether the district, which is the last in Clark County to have two high schools, should stay separated or be consolidated.
Ultimately, the majority of the board decided that trying to build two high schools on either side of the district would give the district the best chance at passing the bond issue.
Parents outside Rolling Hills has said that there is a need for new schools.
““I think a lot of parents would agree the facilities could use some updating,” parent Jennifer Cosby said. “Especially Rolling Hills, where they have dividers in the classroom and not actual walls.”
By the numbers
$117 million: Total cost of Northeastern Local Schools plan to build two pre-K through 12th-grade schools.
$77 million: Total cost to Northeastern Local School taxpayers
$40 million: Total amount pledged by the Ohio Facility Construction Commission.
Continuing Coverage
The Springfield News-Sun has dug deep to publish in-depth stories on the Northeastern Local School bond issue.
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