Northeastern considering levy for February ballot

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By Megan Gildow, Staff Writer Updated 5:26 PM Friday, November 6, 2009

Northeastern board members took the first step toward putting a tax issue on the Feb. 2 ballot to fund new buildings.

The board voted unanimously Friday morning, Nov. 6, to place a 37-year combined property and income tax issue on the ballot — identical to the one rejected by voters in Tuesday’s election — to partner with the state to build new schools, said board President Leonard Kadel.

Board members called a special meeting at 6:30 a.m. Friday in an effort to beat a Clark County Board of Elections’ Monday deadline for the income tax portion, said Kadel.

The Ohio Schools Facilities Commission will fund 41 percent of a project to construct new buildings if Northeastern Local Schools can secure approval of the local portion by August. After August, the district risks losing the state portion.

“We’ve got to put this back on because we have this opportunity and this opportunity doesn’t last very long,” said Kadel.

Northeastern plans to build two campuses of three buildings each.

Money generated from a .25-percent income tax issue would go toward locally funded initiatives that the OSFC doesn’t cover: Auditoriums, larger gyms and a special flooring, called terrazzo, that handles wear-and-tear well. The tax would cost $100 a year for a $40,000 income.

The property tax portion would fund the remaining cost. The millage amount hasn’t been certified by the county auditor, but it would likely be similar to the 7.572-mill levy rejected Nov. 3 by a vote of 3,931 to 4,965, according to final, unofficial results from the Clark County Board of Elections.

That levy would have cost $231 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home had voters approved it.

The board has moved its regularly scheduled board meeting to 6:30 a.m. Nov. 18 to finalize the ballot issue in time for the Nov. 19 deadline, said Kadel.

Voters rejected the measures Tuesday, in unofficial results, 4,931 to 3,965.

The maintenance crew spends much of its time putting band-aids on problems like aged plumbing and wiring, said Jim Lannon of the district’s maintenance department.]

“We’re getting into situations where it’s beyond our skill set,” he said. “We’ve had to call certified electricians in and certified plumbers in.”

Visitors to the buildings don’t see those problems, he said.

“I see things that you don’t see walking into our buildings,” he said. “As far as preventative maintenance, I feel in our schools we’re beyond that.”

The OSFC will not fund renovations if the cost of renovating the existing building exceeds two-thirds of the cost of constructing a new one. None of Northeastern’s buildings met the OSFC’s standard for funding renovation instead of repairs, said Linda Wallace, the district’s communications director.

Overcrowding, the ability to accommodate technology and aged infrastructure are some of the issues in the district’s buildings, according to officials.

Several of the schools also have partial walls to modify the original, open design that was popular when they were originally constructed, creating noise problems, said Wallace.

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To all who have commented on this article, I would like to invite you to attend our next board meeting to address your concerns, questions and opinions. The board will be happy to respond to your input. The next meeting will be Wednesday evening, November 18th, at Northeastern High School. The meeting will begin at 6:30 PM. Thank you in advance for your attendance. Thank you

Leonard Kadel
1:21 PM, 11/13/2009

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Going to the board meeting is a good idea.

But I hope it doesn't turn into a shouting match - nothing will be resolved! We need to work together to come to a resolution that is best interest of education of our kids.

Board Mtg
11:49 AM, 11/13/2009

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I'm going to the board meeting on Wednesday night to voice my views. Hope to see all of you there also. The board office told me the meeting will start at 6:30 at Northeastern HS. I'm giving them a piece of my mind

tired of this
10:28 AM, 11/13/2009

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This is not about the board or any of the other excuses I’m reading. It is about our childen’s education and that they know we, as a community, value education. Some of you expect your children to attend schools with conditions that you would not work or live in. Your children aren’t safe – would you go to bed at night and leave the doors unlocked? I don’t understand, I just don’t understand. Please don’t fight your battles on the backs of our children.

VOTE YES in Feb
9:54 PM, 11/9/2009

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The board and supt. need to be sympathetic to the fact that many people are hurting and their bank accounts don't have the money in them to give. Facts work both ways.

TANSTAAFL
4:20 PM, 11/9/2009

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