Levy, bond backer in Weathersfield shows confidence

By Mary Smith

The levy committee plans a Community Day on May 3.

MINERAL RIDGE — The chairman of the committee to promote passage of the Weathersfield schools bond issue and levy said the committee is excited about the positive feedback its heard from the community.

David Rouan told the board of education about the committee’s efforts to persuade voters to approve an $8.4 million, 28-year bond issue and a 1.6-mill continuous levy to appear on the May 5 ballot.

A Community Day is planned from 5 to 8 p.m. May 3 at the middle school, state Route 46, to raise more public awareness on the issues and to talk about the bond issue, Rouan said.

Rouan said the committee is in the final stages of sending out information on the levy. Details on the two issues were provided in a four-page ad the committee took out in the schools’ newsletter that was distributed last week.

Superintendent Michael Hanshaw said, “We are very optimistic. The community has always been very supportive of schools even in these rough economic times. This gives us a chance to get a new building with the state paying 60 percent.”

Postcards explaining the levy are to be mailed out to registered voters before the election.

The Community Day, which is free, will include performances by the high school pep band, middle school band and high school students.

In addition, a disc jockey will play music all evening, and there will be bounce tents and blow-up slides for children to enjoy. Hot dogs, ice cream and punch will be served. Expenses are being covered by the committee.

Rouan said committee member Joshua Garrett met with the 55-plus Club and had positive feedback from club members.

Garrett said T-shirts for Seaborn Elementary students and teachers to support the bond issue are to be distributed next week. He said lawn signs will be in this weekend for distribution.

The bond issue would raise the district’s share for new construction, and the levy would raise $131,739 annually for maintenance of the facilities and to purchase new computers and technology hardware.

The state will pay 60 percent of the estimated $19 million project.

Construction plans are to raze most of the middle school except the auditorium and gymnasium, which are to be used as a community center, and the bus garage in the back of the building.

An addition to Seaborn Elementary School is planned to move middle school students there and make Seaborn a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade building.

The district has been approved for an Ohio School Facilities Commission grant that will pay for 40 percent of the cost of razing the middle school and new construction at Seaborn.

Negotiations are under way to rent the Our Lady of Mount Carmel school building for students to be bused to the school and attend classes there while the new building is under construction. The state will help fund the cost of renting the building.