NEWTON FALLS Levy panel pushes new plan

A rally in support of the levy is planned for May 5 downtown.
By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NEWTON FALLS -- The Newton Falls School Levy Committee has a new plan it hopes will be more appealing to May 8 primary-election voters.
In February, a 3.4-mill bond issue that would have generated funds to build an elementary school, tear down the middle school and renovate and expand the junior and senior high school failed by 33 votes.
"The new plan addresses community concerns that might have made people vote against the levy last time," said Superintendent Linda Clapp.
In the new plan: Instead of building a new kindergarten through grade five facility and sending sixth-graders to the junior and senior high school as was originally planned, the new plan calls for:
URenovating the middle school into an elementary school for kindergarten through second grade.
UConstructing a middle school behind the junior and senior high school for grades three through six.
URenovating the junior and senior high school.
Committee member Jeff Walker said at a meeting Tuesday night that the new plan would satisfy the district's needs of additional classrooms, all-day kindergarten, disability access and improved security. It would also create a more unified K-12 campus.
Although the plan has changed, levy numbers have stayed almost the same.
Of 3.3 mills, 2.8 would generate $3.7 million to serve as matching funds to secure $16 million in state construction funds from the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission. An additional 0.5 mill would raise about $51,381 annually for 23 years to cover maintenance.
Walker said the millage this time around has dropped from 3.4 to 3.3 because of lower interest rates. The cost to the average homeowner would be about $6 per month.
Could withdraw: Clapp said if local matching funds are not secured by August, the OSFC will withdraw state funds.
This is the second time Newton Falls voters rejected an attempt to qualify for the $16 million and Clapp said she doesn't know when the opportunity will arise again. Of the $19.7 million in total projected improvements and construction, the OSFC would pay $16 million and the school district would pay $3.7 million.
Bud Fetterolf of the levy committee said it will be more costly for residents to maintain the school buildings in their current condition than it would to pass the levy.
The committee has planned a rally from 6 p.m. to midnight May 5 on Broad Street between North Canal and Center streets downtown.
For more information, call Walker at (330) 872-7945 or Tom Knoske at (330) 898-3867.