WESTERN RESERVE School board decides to put tax increase on ballot

July 27, 2003 at 12:00a.m.

A portion of the high school is to get a face-lift.
By JoANN JONES
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BERLIN CENTER -- Western Reserve Board of Education will take action next month to place an emergency operating levy on the November ballot.
The board met Thursday at the high school after postponing its July 10 meeting to wait for more information about school funding from the state.
State budget cuts for all of Ohio's schools have sent districts to local voters to increase operating revenue. Superintendent Charles Swindler said the district has no choice because of the state funding situation.
The board is expected to pass a resolution to proceed with the levy at its August meeting, treasurer Carol Brobst said. That resolution will contain the exact dollar amount needed per year as well as the necessary millage to raise that amount as determined by the Mahoning County Auditor's office.
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The board also gave Kreidler Construction of Poland a contract to renovate a portion of the high school that will give the manufacturing technology class a storefront for its T-shirt business.
At its June meeting, board members had authorized Swindler and Brobst to accept the lowest and best bid, which came from Kreidler at $59,977, and then enter into a contract for the work that also will include renovation for both the front and back of the school.
High school Principal Jeff Zatchok said the renovation will include removing panels and installing new support beams in the front of the school as well as creating a storefront from a storage area at the back of the school that faces the stadium.
The board also filled two extracurricular contracts for the 2003-04 school year. Jacie Christoff of Lake Milton will serve as junior varsity volleyball coach at an annual salary of $3,187, and high school guidance counselor Greg Malito was approved as senior class adviser for a stipend of $1,517. The board also approved middle school teacher Robert Topoleski to serve as an unpaid cross country coach.