Columbiana board OKs levy for fall ballot

A new facility may be built near the district’s high school.

STAFF REPORT

COLUMBIANA — Columbiana Board of Education voted to put a 4.9-mill levy on the November ballot.

Superintendent Ron Iarussi said Tuesday the levy should bring in about $13 million to create the new school facilities the district needs.

The good news, he added, is that the district has revenue to help pay for the rest of the estimated total cost of $18 million.

The district has about 1,040 pupils. Because enrollment is increasing, “we have a growth problem,” Iarussi said.

The South Side Middle School and Joshua Dixon Elementary School have age problems. The superintendent said the district faced making some improvements to the older facilities to accommodate more pupils. But the district could still face problems in the older buildings compared with new construction.

The superintendent said he would expect any new facilities to be built at the high school, where the district owns 63 acres.

If the plan moves ahead, the district will meet with an architect to work out the specifics of the new buildings.

If the district breaks ground in the spring, Lori Posey, the district’s treasurer, said the new facilities could be completed in about 30 months.

In other action, the board hired registered nurse Cathy Hofmeister for $19,600 a year and Shelly Socciarelli as a medical aide for $11,134 a year.

At a previous meeting, several people criticized the board because it was considering hiring medical workers with less experience.

The superintendent said a large tree had been cut down at the football field that would have blocked the line of sight for those attending games. New bleachers also are being erected, he added.

Columbiana’s first home game will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 29. There will be a dedication of the new facilities at the field at 6:45 p.m. Sept. 5.