Issue 10 passage would allow New Philadelphia to build two new schools
NEW PHILADELPHIA – If voters approve Issue 10 on the May 6th ballot, the school district can soon begin construction of a new K-6 elementary school and a 7-12 middle and high school building.
Superintendent Amy Wentworth says initially, passage of the combined 5.9-mill bond issue and 1-mill tax levy would have allowed them to get started on the new elementary school now and the new middle-high school in the near future. However, she recently heard from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission that work on both schools can begin upon passage of the bond issue.
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She says the bond issue and school district would fund 45 percent, while the state would fund 55 percent of the roughly $146 million in construction costs.
Wentworth does not believe the district will see this type of deal again if Issue 10 fails.
“This is the cheapest, best opportunity that voters are going to have to address these needs for New Philadelphia Schools,” she said.
The elementary school would be built behind South School. The new middle-high school would be built behind Welty Middle School and the high school. Wentworth says all schools would stay open during construction.
Issue 10 would cost New Philadelphia homeowners $242 per year for every $100,000 of property value.
“It is not insignificant, but again it is only going to go up over time,” Wentworth said. “This is the best chance to do it in the most economical way.”
A similar issue failed in November. Wentworth says she believes the district has addressed some of the voters’ concerns. They have nailed down a location for the middle-and-high school and addressed traffic concerns for the south side.
Wentworth says the existing buildings have leaks, cracks, heating problems, and other costly defects. Plus, the district is using outdoor modular classrooms at each of its elementary schools.
“When the state came in and evaluated our current facilities, they determined that is was actually cheaper to tear down what we have and build new because we have so many significant problems now and others that are just waiting to erupt at any given moment.”