Board joins program to build new school

By ERIC GROSSO

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

BROOKFIELD — Brookfield voters will be asked to provide local dollars, in the form of a bond issue this fall, for a school building project.

That’s because the school district is one step closer to receiving more than $20 million from a state program to build a new kindergarten-through-12th-grade school.

Board members voted 3-1 Saturday to participate in the Ohio School Facilities Commission Classroom Assistance Program.

The project calls for Brookfield to cover $11.3 million and the state covering $20.1 million, for a total projected budget of $31.4 million. The district has one year to obtain its share of the funds.

Representatives from the district met with OSFC representatives starting last summer to assess the conditions of the district’s current facilities. After the acceptance by Brookfield on Saturday, the resolution will need to be passed by OSFC representatives at a meeting in July.

Dean Fisher, Steve Varga and board President Joseph Pasquerilla voted for the resolution.

Contract dispute

Many at the meeting, including the dissenting Ronald Brennan, wondered why Varga and Pasquerilla would approve the OSFC deal while in previous months denying a new teachers’ contract — citing a lack of funding.

Pasquerilla said Saturday he “couldn’t accept the teachers’ contract because the funds simply weren’t there.”

During the April board meeting, however, Brennan, Superintendent Michael Notar and Treasurer Rhonda Baldwin said the district did have the money to support the contract.

Brookfield hasn’t passed a new levy in 12 years, including four defeated levies during that time.

Pasquerilla said a bond issue would be placed on the November ballot, in hopes it would provide the $11.3 million for new schools. “The public will decide on the new schools in November, and I’ll accept their decision,” Pasquerilla said.

But Brennan said, “I just don’t see how we can pursue new schools when we have this [the teachers’ contract] mess on our hands.” Brennan wondered why Pasquerilla would not put an operating levy on the November ballot to secure the funds for the teachers’ contract but is hoping to put a bond issue on for new schools.

The ballot issue is expected to be discussed at the next board meeting July 14.