Mathews School District voters to consider construction issue in May

VIENNA

Mathews Board of Education will ask voters in the May 6 primary election to approve a $24.7 million bond issue to finance a kindergarten through 12th grade building that would replace the district’s aging 3 schools. The building’s total cost is projected at nearly $30 million.

It is the second time the board has sought voter approval to a new school. In 2009, a $22 million issue for a one-building school district was rejected by 59 percent of the voters.

“The need was great then and it’s even greater now,” said Superintendent Lewis Lowery following the board’s unanimous vote Wednesday.

The building housing the high school and junior high will be 100 years old next year. The two elementary schools, Baker and Currie, were constructed in the 1960s. Plans call for demolition of all three buildings.

Lowery, who was not superintendent in 2009, said the local share has increased because the Ohio School Facilities Commission has been cutting the state contribution for the last few years. The OSFC share for the Mathews project is $5.6 million.

“The state share is less now and construction costs are still going up,” the superintendent said.

Read more about the proposed project in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.