Board looking to approve expansion

Work could begin in spring 2007 at the earliest.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- School officials are hoping to build and renovate district buildings -- with the help of the state and approval from taxpayers.
The board of education has passed a resolution accepting the Ohio School Facilities Commission's proposal for new buildings.
"This would mean that we could have all new buildings on a campus setting," said Superintendent Richard Buchenic. "These would be state-of-the-art buildings, a 21st century learning environment."
The ideal plan, Buchenic said Tuesday, would be to build new elementary and middle schools. The high school would be renovated with space added.
Buchenic said the three schools would all be situated in the area where the high school currently sits. He said building around the high school is ideal because the school district owns about 68 acres in that area.
"We probably won't have to buy any additional land. That is one of the good things," he said.
Buchenic said savings recognized from using land already owned by the school district could be put to better use in construction of the buildings.
Cost
The entire building project will cost an estimated $58 million. The state will pay 68 percent of the total cost. The district will be expected to pay the remaining 32 percent or a little more than $18 million.
Board members will need approval from voters in the form of a levy to provide the $18 million in matching funds.
"We may be on the ballot in November -- maybe. We will know that very soon," said Buchenic.
Buchenic said work on the buildings would begin in spring 2007 at the absolute earliest. Planning, however, will begin almost immediately, he said.
jgoodwin@vindy.com