28-year bond issue heads to auditor for millage approval

By Mary Smith

Local additions increased the bond issue amount.

MINERAL RIDGE — The Weathersfield school board approved a resolution to ask the Trumbull County auditor’s office to certify the millage for a proposed $8.4 million bond issue to be brought to voters in the May 5 primary election.

The bond issue will be for 28 years. A local share of 60 percent is required.

The Ohio School Facilities Commission will contribute $10.6 million for a school building project to add on to Seaborn Elementary School and raze most of the middle school.

Originally the project total was $17.7 million with a $7 million local share.

Locally funded initiatives totaling $1.4 million have been added to the cost of the project, district Treasurer Laurena Rouan explained at Wednesday’s board meeting.

Those initiatives include an additional 5,900 square feet, which includes a full gymnasium at the remodeled and expanded Seaborn Elementary K-8 building.

Also included are the costs of maintenance of the new facilities, for which the district is seeking one additional mill, valued at $83,000 and an estimated 0.6 mills or $49,000 for technology.

Rouan said the district is projecting an opening date of 2012.

The county auditor must certify the amount of millage before the board can act to place the issue on the May ballot.

The state will provide the electrical wiring and computer hookups in new construction at Seaborn Elementary, but the district is adding another $46,000 to purchase new computers and technology hardware.

The OSFC project includes razing the middle school on state Route 46, except for the gymnasium and cafeteria, which will be used as a community center, and keeping the bus garages at the rear of the building.

Middle-school pupils in grades five through eight will be moved to Seaborn Elementary on Niles-Carver Road. A portion of Seaborn will be torn down and new classrooms and restrooms will be added to create a combined K-8 building.

Thirteen elementary and 13 middle school classrooms are planned, along with a new gymnasium, and two separate entrances in the front of the building will be used for elementary and middle school pupils.

Each group of students will have a separate media center and art classrooms.

New administrative offices will be added for the entire district in the back of the building.

David Rouan, co-chairman of the bond levy committee, told the board that some new district residents attended a meeting two weeks ago showing a lot of interest in the building project.

“The community is responding well,” he said, adding, “I’m sure we can make this happen.” He said he believes the issue will pass the first time around.