Officials seek public’s input on plans for new schools

By Jordan Cohen

The schools are seeking public input on building and financing plans.

NILES — The first of three public meetings on proposed major building projects for the Niles public schools is this evening and Superintendent Rocco Adduci wants to hear the good and the bad.

The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the Niles McKinley High School cafeteria.

“We have two options to present to the public and we want them to respond,” said Adduci.

The first option consists of construction of a new high school and two elementary schools. The second option also includes new high school construction, but limits construction to one new elementary school and a new wing for the 4-year old middle school. Adduci said the new elementary building would house approximately 1,200 pupils from kindergarten to fourth grade. The fifth grade would be moved to the new wing of the middle school.

“The second option is the more expensive of the two,” the superintendent said.

Adduci said the Ohio School Facilities Commission will pay 72 percent of the construction cost, an increase over the previous state offer of 68 percent, with the schools paying the balance of 28 percent. In addition, both options contain plans for land purchase and payment of a loan that the superintendent said would save the district $400,000. The purchase and payment would be covered by a loan the school district would take out through the sale of bonds, the superintendent said.

He estimated the amount of the bond issue at 5 mills.

Adduci emphasized that neither option contains plans for a new stadium, unlike the issue that was rejected by the voters last year.

“The public has made it clear that they don’t want a new stadium,” Adduci said.

Tonight’s meeting will be an interactive presentation. After a presentation, the public will be given keypads to respond to questions about their views on both options. There will be time allotted for audience members to voice their opinions.

“We want them to air their concerns and we will answer as best we can,” Adduci said.

The other two public meetings on the plan have been scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Eastwood Mall Community Room and 7 p.m. April 15 in the Niles Middle School Cafetorium.