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Austintown voters face bond issue to build two schools with state aid
By Elise Franco
Austintown
The school district has one final shot to pass a 2.9-mill bond issue that will appear on the May 4 ballot.
A total of $27 million would be raised for the construction of two new elementary schools using 2.4 mills that would bring in $721,137 annually over 37 years.
The remaining 0.5 mills would raise $304,061 annually for 23 years for classroom facilities.
The total project costs about $50 million, and the state would fund the remaining $23 million.
Lori Gavalier, campaign chairwoman, said passing the bond issue is vital to the district.
Gavalier said after the issue failed in November 2009, the campaign committee began working in overdrive to distribute information to ensure as many residents could cast an informed vote on election day.
“A lot of people, as we’re hand delivering literature, are saying, ‘Wow, I didn’t realize the state’s contribution,’” she said. “One woman said knowing this information has influenced her and turned her vote around. These are good signs.”
Dr. David Ritchie, school board president, said this campaign should prove more successful.
“I think there’s been much more information put out,” he said. “Before, I heard people say they didn’t understand, so we have tried to get as much out to as many people as possible.”
The plan would unify the district into one central campus on property near Watson Elementary and Frank Ohl Intermediate schools, Schools Superintendent Vince Colaluca has said.
The two schools would house students in kindergarten through second grade and third to fifth grades, respectively.
Gavalier said the new Austintown Middle School, which opened in 2007, is the perfect example of how learning can improve with the proper facilities.
“When we combined grades six through eight in AMS, every year they made an improvement. They’re now at excellent,” she said. “The state attributes that to the new building with the new teaching technologies available.”
Gavalier said the campaign has focused mainly on getting the proper information out. But it’s important for residents to realize this a fleeting opportunity, she added.
“If we become a lapsed district the writing’s on the wall that the money isn’t going to be there later,” she said. “We have stated that. I think a lot of people view it as a threat, and we don’t want to threaten anyone. It is factual though ... The money isn’t guaranteed to be there.”
Ritchie said building repairs will be necessary, whether it’s now or in the future.
“Hopefully people understand that if we have to do repairs it’s 100 percent out of the taxpayers’ pocket,” he said. “Here we’ve got a chance for a two for one.”
Gavalier said if the bond issue doesn’t pass, when the time comes to make repairs and, eventually, build new schools, it would still cost taxpayers.
She said it would cost students and teachers even more.
“The money for repairs is not in the budget,” Gavalier said. “Programs and services, and we don’t know which ones, would have to be cut.”
Other school issues on the May 4 ballot in Mahoning County include:
Campbell School District’s 12-mill, five-year renewal levy that will raise $989,771 annually for emergency requirements.
South Range School District’s 3.1-mill, 10-year renewal levy that will raise $558,000 annually to avoid an operating deficit.