WARREN SCHOOLS Board approves plans for building

The 6.5-mill bond issue will be on the November ballot.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The school board entered an interim agreement with architectural firms from Dublin, Ohio, and Youngstown, for the development of new schools for the district.
Voters will decide whether to approve a 6.5-mill, 28-year bond issue on the November ballot. The bond issue is to provide the local money for an Ohio Schools Facilities Commission project to build all new schools for the district.
OSFC is providing 80 percent of the estimated $168 million project cost and the levy is to raise the remainder.
Fanning/Howey Associates Inc. of Dublin and Olsavsky Jaminet Architects of Youngstown have worked with the school district in developing the master plan and assisted the board campaign committee in running the bond issue campaign at no charge.
Looking ahead
Under the agreement approved by board members Tuesday, if the bond issue passes, the companies will prepare designs, construction documents and construction administration payment for which a contract must be worked out with the school board.
The agreement lasts until either a contract is signed between the companies and the district for the architectural services for the scope of the project or there are three unsuccessful bond issue elections.
In a resolution approved in January, the school board selected the Dublin firm as the architectural design firm for the project. The interim agreement was a follow-up to that resolution.
The plan calls for five new kindergarten through eighth-grade schools and a new high school. The 13 elementary, three middle schools and Warren G. Harding High School would likely be demolished.
Included in the local funds is $650,000 for a sports field at each of the K-8 buildings; $1 million to preserve historic elements at Harding High School; $4,318,000 for an eight-lane competition swimming pool at the high school; $500,000 to cover land acquisition in case the board must buy property to accommodate the new buildings; the $2 million contingency; and 0.5 mills for permanent improvements.
The bond issue will cost the owner of a $50,000 home about $100 annually. The owner of a $150,000 home would pay about $300 per year.
Tom Klingeman, co-chairman of the citizens committee for the bond issue, said television commercials promoting the issue will start airing on cable television this weekend.
In other business, board members recognized 44 school district employees who earned perfect attendance for the 2002-03 school year.
denise.dick@vindy.com