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Local News

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

School board considers two ballot options
By DENISE GRANT

Staff Writer

Findlay school board has less than a week to decide what kind of bond issue, if any, will appear on the November ballot.

In a special meeting Tuesday, the board voted to ask the Hancock County Auditor's Office to determine the tax rates for two building options: a $54 million project for two middle schools and a career technical center, as first proposed; or a $31 million project that would build two middle schools but drop the technical center.

Without the career center, the bond issue would be for 2.6 mills, which would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 about $79.63 per year.

At the original 4.4 mills, the price tag is $135 per year for the same homeowner.

The school district lost its bid for the 4.4-mill bond issue on Aug. 4 by 481 votes. The vote was 3,704 to 3,223, or 53 percent to 47 percent, according to the Hancock County Board of Elections. Vote totals remain unofficial.

The 4.4-mill, 28-year bond issue would have been matched with $19 million from the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

On Tuesday, Superintendent Dean Wittwer presented both options to the school board, plus reminded them they could choose to do nothing in November. The final vote is expected Monday.

Board questions focused Tuesday on the career technical center.

Findlay Schools are currently negotiating with the 13 school districts that send students to the Millstream Career Cooperative. Findlay wants to begin charging rent for use of the three buildings that house Millstream.

Millstream is organized as a "career compact," with expenses being paid by Findlay Schools and the other school districts that send students to Millstream. Compact school districts include all seven Hancock County schools, along with Carey, Leipsic, Miller City-New Cleveland, Ottawa-Glandorf, Pandora-Gilboa and Riverdale.

State aid follows the students to Findlay, and the districts are billed for any additional expenses. The feeder schools also pay $25 per student, based on high school enrollment, into a capital improvement fund.

Under the new contract, the capital improvement fund stays in place, but the feeder schools are also being asked to pay rent: $25 per student.

If a new Millstream building is erected, the feeder schools would be charged $50 per student for rent in the first year, and $75 per student the next year, District Treasurer Michael Barnhart said.

Barnhart said it is still a cheaper option than a joint vocational school for most. State law requires each school in a joint vocational program to tax itself 2 mills to support the vocational program.

Compact members are being given an "opt out" choice, but so far, Wittwer said negotiations appear to be going smoothly. The next meeting between all of the school districts will be in September.

The school board's "Plan B," which drops the career center from the building project, would mean big changes for the proposed middle schools. The district would be operating under a spending cap if it changes the bond issue request from $54 million to $31 million.

Barnhart said anytime a school district asks voters for a tax larger than 4 percent of its valuation, it must get permission from the state tax commissioner and the Ohio Department of Education. The district has permission to seek a $54 million bond issue, but the district missed a July 21 deadline for state consent for a different-sized bond issue on the November ballot.

As a result, the most the district could ask for is $31 million, or 4 percent of its valuation.

But that would require changes in the building plans for the proposed middle schools: smaller classrooms, fewer labs, no community room, no second gym and no additional music/vocal rooms.

Project Architect Jerry Murray said the plan was to build the two new middle schools bigger to accommodate athletes and musicians coming from three middle schools.

"The goal was to accommodate participation. Without the extra space, it would be assumed that less students could participate in these activities," Murray said.

Dropping the cost of the project would also mean a $6 million loss of state match money, Wittwer said.

School board members are seeking public comment. Their e-mail addresses can be found on the school district's Web site.

On the Net:

www.findlaycityschools.org



Grant: 419-427-8412,

Send an e-mail to Denise Grant
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6 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
J wrote:
Why
“ Why would people vote for two new school, that by your own words will be too small before they are even built. And on top of everything, what the children need in this economy is technical training,and what do you drop the technical center. Drop the two new school and build a state of art techincal center. That will really help the children of this city have a future. ”
Thursday, August 13, 2009 1:00:10 AM
SARA wrote:
What next?
“ The fire and police departments gave back a big chunk of money awhile back to save jobs until the end of the year...now the city is going back on their word and laying guys/gals off anyways? AND to top it off, they want the FD to forgo their raise for next year, in promise of saving jobs? And after the forgo the raise, how many people will get laid off anyway? If the city couldn't keep their word this time around, I highly doubt they will next time. Keep your raise guys!!! ”
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 9:29:55 PM
Quickledo wrote:
no NEW taxes
“ If you don't understand the "NO TAX" mentality, how about the "no NEW tax" mentality. Half of us already pay enough in taxes, unless you are one of half of the working Americans who pay NO income taxes. The other half pay over 60% of their earned income towards one tax or another. If more than 60% in taxation isn't enough for some, well, why not take it all. Enough is enough -- no NEW taxes! Governments should learn to live with what they already take. ”
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 5:36:14 PM
ron wrote:
Jennifer wrote:
“ will not happen ”
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 1:20:24 PM
Jennifer wrote:
If not by taxes, then how?
“ I don't understand this "NO TAX" mentality. If you were not taxed, would you give 20% or more of your income voluntarily for roads, schools, libraries, etc.? I think not. So how do you propose we pay for the infrastructure of our nation?

Schools are the backbone of a community and educating our youth should be a top priority for every citizen. I think most parents would be very opposed to having a sixth-eighth grade student in such a large school as one middle school would have to be. Two seems the optimal number for transportation purposes and size. I don't think the school board views anyone as a fool - I think they are trying their best to pass a plan to bring part of our schools into this century.

Some people make it sound as if there is some sort of personal gain to the administration and board in having new schools, as though they were new houses or offices for the board and administration. In reality, these buildings will house students and teachers - they will benefit our community as a whole. I am hopeful that the same issue makes it back on the ballot and that those who voted no last time will take the time and effort to see that this is a necessity and not a luxury, because that is what it is. ”
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 11:48:11 AM
ron wrote:
same game you pay and for what
“ The fact of the matter is that,,, now they have shifted to the old shell game,
When in fact if the would have went with one radial centered located middle school
Kept cost down ,,,,that would made since to the home owner... and may have passed, this will only serve to confuse the, voter more
This tacit will only bring out more NO votes .don't take us for fools

VOTE NO ON ALL NEW TAXES
”
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 6:49:49 AM
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