EAST PALESTINE Plans on display for proposed school complex

The city wouldn't raise taxes to fund the stadium and community center.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
EAST PALESTINE -- City residents who haven't yet gotten a look at plans for a proposed new high school and community sports complex can do so Wednesday.
The school board will have a public forum at 6 p.m. in the high school media center. Plans drawn up by an architectural firm will be on display, and residents will have a chance to ask questions about the project.
Superintendent Jeff Richardson said the school board has discussed the project at its last several meetings, which are open to the public.
"We just felt that we needed to make a special invitation for people to come out and take a look at this," Richardson said.
The school board has bought 48 acres behind the new high school. Plans call for construction of a new football stadium there, with seating for 2,000 fans. There also would be soccer, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, locker rooms, a concession area and a large parking lot.
Richardson said stadium construction would take about two years. "It's a pretty massive project," he said.
Once it's finished, an indoor community recreation center would be built on the site of the football field.
Funding
To pay for the sports complex, the school board would ask voter approval to borrow the money through the sale of some $4.7 million in bonds. The district could then use permanent improvement money, about $3.3 million, to pay for the community center.
If the issue goes on the ballot for the November election and is approved, construction could begin in spring 2004, Richardson said.
He said that with an interest rate of 1.5 percent, the district is paying back other loans more quickly than anticipated because more is paid on the loan principal than scheduled. Loans originally scheduled for repayment over 23 years will be paid back in 12 years.
Because of the quick payback, voters could allow the district to borrow money for the project without increasing taxes they're already paying, Richardson added. Financing the sports project would simply extend the payoff time, the superintendent said.
bjackson@vindy.com