Board to seek bond issue for improvement money

If the 6.7-mill issue is approved by voters, the state will kick in nearly $38 million.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- The board of education has agreed to ask voters if they want to borrow $26 million to build three new schools, refurbish the stadium and construct a new track.
The money would be borrowed through the sale of bonds, and the board voted unanimously Wednesday to place a 6.7-mill bond issue on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
If the borrowing is approved by voters, the school district will receive nearly $38 million from the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission.
Superintendent Rocco Adduci said the local share, or $17.9 million, will be used to demolish the high school and four elementary buildings and rebuild the high school and two elementary buildings.
The new high school would be constructed on the site of the old high school, and two 610-pupil elementary buildings would be built on the sites of the Lincoln and Bonham elementary schools.
Of the $26 million, $8.1 million will be used to buy land around the high school; to renovate the stadium; to build an eight-lane track at the high school where the football practice field and parking lot are now; and to rent temporary classroom space while construction is going on.
Maintenance money
Adduci said 0.5 mills of the 6.7 mills will be used to maintain the new structures, which is required by state law.
Some of the bonds will be paid off in 23 years, and others, over 28 years, the superintendent said.
John DeFrance, an architect with Olsavsky Jaminet Architects Inc. of Youngstown, said the high school would be constructed in two phases.
He explained that the classroom portion will be built first and the students moved in. Then, the old building will be demolished and replaced with the section containing the cafeteria, kitchen and gymnasium and administrative offices.
The only objection to placing the issue before voters was from Lydia Infante, a senior citizen.
She said seniors can't afford the increased taxes, especially because property owners are paying off the middle school construction project.
Board member Robert Marino Sr., a retired Niles High School educator, said a new high school is needed because the building structurally cannot accept any new technology.
Property reassessment
It was pointed out that it wasn't only the 4.8-mill issue used to build the middle school that raised taxes, but the county's reassessment of property values also appeared on the tax duplicate.
Adduci said he realizes the added millage for new construction will be a burden on taxpayers, but added that the ability to get the money from the state is a "tremendous opportunity."
He said the community would be remiss if voters didn't approve the levy because the new buildings will have to be constructed sooner or later.
Voters will have three opportunities to vote on the 6.7-mill issue within a year. If it doesn't pass, the district would lose the state's contribution of nearly $38 million, Adduci said.
yovich@vindy.com