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Northeastern board to discuss last chance at raising construction funds

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By Megan Gildow, Staff Writer Updated 9:52 AM Monday, March 15, 2010

HARMONY TWP. — Northeastern Local Schools board members will seek opinions from voters this week to modify a plan to construct new buildings in the district.

The board will meet in a special session Thursday, March 18, to discuss its last chance at passing the local portion of a funding partnership with the state to pay for the construction of new facilities.

The Ohio Schools Facilities Commission would pay 41 percent of the cost of the plan, leaving 59 percent to local taxpayers.

Voters rejected in November and February — by a vote of nearly 60 percent against to 40 percent for, according to the Clark County Board of Elections — a plan to construct two campuses of three buildings each in the district.

The combined 7.572-mill property tax and 0.25 percent income tax would have cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $230 a year and $100 for a $40,000 income.

A lively discussion at a February board meeting with residents brought forth suggestions such as merging Kenton Ridge and Northeastern high schools, renovating the newest of the buildings, such as Kenton Ridge, and revamping the plan to maintain a school in the village of South Vienna.

Any changes to the plan would have to go back before the OSFC for approval prior to going before voters in August, the last chance for the district to pass the issue before it risks losing the funding, according to Northeastern officials. The OSFC allows districts one year from the initial notification of a funding offer — in Northeastern’s case, late August of last year — to secure local approval of the project.

Northeastern board members will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at Northeastern High School.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0373  or mgildow@coxohio.com.

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