Troy school board narrows options before ballot drive

Ballot drive about buildings is imminent.

Consensus support for constructing two new elementary school buildings for students through grade six as opposed to four new buildings was expressed by the Troy City Schools Board of Education.

The board May 19 discussed options following three community input meetings this spring. The district now has six elementary buildings around the community and a sixth-grade building.

Whether two new buildings would be on a single campus or in two locations remains to be determined. The proposals outlined for residents during the community meetings showed conjoined prekindergarten through second grade and third- through six-grade buildings sharing some facilities.

Where buildings would be located has not been determined. In general location comments, the board and district administrators said potential available land options are in the city growth areas in west and south.

District Superintendent Eric Herman said potential locations are being explored. The only location the district owns that would be logical/large enough for future building would be the Concord school site, he said. The board approved putting $300,000 in the district budget for possible land purchase.

The two-building option’s estimated cost is $63.3 million (67 percent district and 33 percent state dollars) while the four-building option is $72.9 million. That would be $42.4 million local share for the two buildings and $48.8 million local share for four buildings.

If the two-building option is pursued, the proposed bond issue would include money for local funded projects not covered by state funding such as updates at the junior and high school and the types of finishings for new buildings. Herman said gym space needs also should be explored because of the heavy use of gyms in the existing buildings.

A 4.65 mill bond issue proposal has been discussed. A bond issue of that amount would cost the owner of a home with a $100,000 valuation, $163 a year.

If the bond issue would appear on the November ballot, all paperwork must be filed by Aug. 9.

Board member Joyce Reives said conceptual plans for buildings would be important as the board tries to sell any bond issue. “I think they would help with the educational process for the ballot,” she said.

Board member Tom Kleptz said plans that are too detailed because people would see a building and later argue “That is not what you said,” if changes were made.

A report by SHP, consultants who have worked with the board on exploring options, will be made to the board in early June.

Information on the district's facilities review process is available on its website at www.troy.k12.oh.us.

Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com.

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