WARREN Levy will include $1M for high school

The November levy is for just under 7 mills.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A levy on the November ballot for new city schools will include $1 million for historic preservation at Warren G. Harding High School.
School board members met in special session Thursday to determine the amount of the levy and what locally funded items will be included.
The levy is to provide the local portion for the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission project that will pay 80 percent of the estimated $168 million project to erect five buildings for kindergarten through the eighth grade and a new high school.
Board President Lynn Gibson said the bond issue will be for 6.985 mills. That includes $650,000 for a sports field at each of the K-8 buildings and $1 million to preserve historic elements at Harding High School.
Gibson and board member Linda Metzendorf have advocated saving a portion of the high school, wich was built in 1924, saying they've heard from many residents who want to see a portion of the building saved.
The Trumbull County Historic Society also passed a resolution supporting retaining a portion of the school and sent letters to its members urging them to contact school board members regarding their wishes.
Other amenities
Also included in the locally funded portion of the project, is $4,318,000 for an eight-lane competition swimming pool at the high school. The price estimate also includes seating for 300 spectators and locker rooms.
An additional $500,000 is to cover land acquisition in case the board must buy property to accommodate the new buildings and $3.5 million is established as a contingency to pay for unforeseen conditions that arise during the project.
Board members are to vote on the ballot language at their regular meetings this month.
Gibson said the bond issue amount also includes 0.5 mills for permanent improvements.
"The goal of the board was to keep it under 7 mills, and we did that," Gibson said.
denise.dick.com