Group raises funds for bond issue at Ridge

STAFF REPORT

MINERAL RIDGE — Bill Holland, Weathersfield schools bond issue committee treasurer, projects the committee will clear an estimated $7,000 from the reverse raffle and Chinese auction held earlier this month.

The event was the major fund-raising event to help gain support for an 8.4-mill bond issue and a 1.6-mill continuous levy, for maintenance of facilities and to purchase new computers and technology hardware. The two issues are to go before voters May 5.

Holland said 265 people bought tickets for the fundraiser.

He said the committee plans to advertise the levies, put up political signs and distribute in-home mailers and is debating making up kids’ T-shirts and buttons.

The committee will meet with parents at the middle school at 7 p.m. todayto explain details of the bond issue and levy. On March 31, there will be a meeting with parents at Seaborn Elementary.

The bond issue will raise $8.4 million over 28 years, and the levy would raise $131,739 annually, both of which will go to pay the district’s share of an Ohio School Facilities Commission building project to raze most of the old middle school and add on to Seaborn Elementary to turn it into a K-8 building.

The bus garage will be retained and still used at the middle school, and the auditorium and gymnasium will not be razed and are to be used as a community center.

The state’s 60-percent portion of the cost will come to $10.6 million. Originally the project cost was $17.7 million, but the district has added on $1.4 million to its original $7 million share in “locally funded initiatives” — an additional 5,900 square feet, which includes a full gymnasium at the remodeled and expanded Seaborn building.