School facilities plan changes OK’d

The Controlling Board also approved funding for South Range Local School District.

By MARC KOVAC

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

COLUMBUS — The state Controlling Board OK’d changes to school facilities plans for a district in Columbiana County and approved funds for another in Mahoning County.

Both followed suit with decisions issued last month by the Ohio School Facilities Commission. Members signed off on changes to the master facilities plan for East Liverpool schools, after enrollment decreased to 2,075 students from 2,633. As a result:

UEast Elementary School is now slated for abatement/demolition. Additions and renovations previously were planned to accommodate fifth through eighth grades, according to documents.

ULacroft Elementary School will receive additional square footage (28,187 instead of 21,431) to accommodate additional students and pre-kindergarten through sixth grades, according to documents.

UEast Liverpool High School’s enrollment was increased by 161 students (to 979 from 818), with seventh through 12th grades on site, according to documents.

The projects will cost $43.6 million, with nearly $38 million in state funding, according to documents. That compares with original estimates of about $60 million.

Also Monday, the Controlling Board approved funding for South Range Local School District, which plans to demolish elementary, middle and high schools and replace them with a newly constructed kindergarten-12th grade facility, according to documents.

The project will cost about $38 million, with the state providing about $20 million, according to documents.

mkovac@dixcom.com