Niles schools adopt construction plans

The school board will know the added millage it will seek at a July 6 meeting.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- The Niles Board of Education has adopted a master plan to build a new high school and two elementary schools.
The board took the action during its meeting Thursday and will meet in a special session in July to determine how much taxes will have to be raised for the buildings and possibly for other improvements.
The plan calls for construction of a new high school and two elementary buildings, which will replace four elementary buildings.
When the three buildings are complete, the district's four school buildings will be new. In 2003, the Ohio School Facilities Commission funded 60 percent of the cost of building a $14 million middle school.
Who pays what
Under the master plan, the facilities commission would pay $37,961,353, with the local share being $17,864,166 for a total $55,825,519 in new construction. Adduci said the commission's share is 68 percent and the school district's is 32 percent of the cost. On the November ballot, the district will ask voter permission to borrow the $17,864,166 through the sale of bonds.
The board has not decided where the new high school would be built, though the location of the old school is being considered, Adduci said.
He cautioned that there is limited space to build in the city and land is expensive.
The 610-pupil elementary buildings will be located where Bonham and Washington elementary schools are now located. They will be buildings for kindergarten through fifth grades.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for our community," said board member Wanda Burns.
Another board member, Robert Marino Sr., said that if voters approve the bond issue to provide the local share, it will mean a better environment for students and staff.
Saving energy
Marino said the new buildings will attract people to the city and save energy and maintenance costs.
The tax increase hasn't been determined, Aducci explained, because the board has a "wish list" of improvements that includes renovating the administration building and football stadium and building an auditorium.
When the list is finalized, the amount of the tax increase the board will seek will then be determined, Aducci said.
The amount will be known when the board meets in special session at 8:30 a.m. July 6 at the administration building.
yovich@vindy.com