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Warren Local School district looks to bond issue

MARIETTA —  A divisive issue that has appeared on the ballot for residents of the Warren Local school district for five previous elections will once again face voters Nov. 8.

“We have a great history of failed bond issues at Warren,” said Kyle Newton, the district’s superintendent. “But this new plan is different in two main ways: the educational plan and the financial deal.”

In May 2010, February, May and November of 2011 and November of 2012 the 8.69-mill bond issue proposed at those elections did not pass muster for local voters. But the new levy to appear this November cuts the local share of district consolidation to 4.99 mills.

That new millage would mean for a home appraised at $100,000, the cost per month would be $15, or $180 per year. The tax burden, if the issue passes, would continue for 30 years for district residents. The funds garnered from this bond issue would create the 28 percent local match of the $62 million proposed project to build two new buildings at the middle school campus to house a new high school and a new centralized elementary school. The remaining 72 percent would be covered by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.

“We know that in our area the population is slimming and so for sustainability, a single campus is more efficient and by having all of the students in one location I can provide more support services across the grades while keeping cost of operations down,” said Newton. “Our district covers 200 square miles and we border two other counties, meaning our district is so rural that the center of the community is the school district. It’s the hub for everything from little league tournaments to band competitions and craft shows.”

The plan proposes to provide for not only the needs of the students in the district, who currently attend classes in the district but also set up community space to be utilized after hours and during the school year breaks.

“All of the students will benefit from one central campus,” said Bob Allen, vice president of the district’s board of education. “We would be able to better distribute the student-to-teacher ratio with for example, all of the third grade students in one building.”

Beth Maidens, a kindergarten teacher at Warren Elementary, said she is in favor of the merge of the two elementary schools because Newton has communicated to educators that the shift would not negatively affect small class sizes.

“Especially in the primary grades when you really have to focus on the individual needs of your students as they’re learning how to read and building basic math skills, that one-on-one time is crucial,” she said. “We’re not worried as teachers that that small class size would change if this levy passes.”

Fellow kindergarten teacher Tara Anderson said she is in favor of the bond issue because she sees it as an investment in the children of the district.

“I was in this classroom as a student and am now here as a teacher,” she said. “I feel this levy is the best chance we have ever had to provide the best climate for our students and help them to be competitive with other students across the state in their academics.”

Climate control is one of the most contentious issues echoed by educators and parents across the county, but especially in Warren Local Schools district, with elementary and high school buildings that haven’t seen infrastructural investment in more than 50 years, said Newton.

“Yes, 20 years ago people had to learn in the heat too,” argued Anderson. “But kids weren’t held to nearly the standard they are now. How are my kids to learn when they’re having to get up to go get water every couple of minutes? How am I supposed to work one-on-one with them when I’m dripping sweat onto their papers?”

Valerie Adams, a second grade teacher at Warren Elementary, said she is excited by what the educational plan offers students in the district.

“For rural schools like ours to compare to the learning environments of those in wealthier districts and cities, that’s what’s most important,” she said. “We have to give our kids the same opportunity and preparation to succeed.”

Adams said her struggles with the current facility include safety concerns for her 7- and 8-year-old students.

“This room and building was meant for junior high kids, even things like reaching the sinks and toilets have been an issue,” she said. “And my room, while I do what I can with the space that I have, I would love to be able to utilize more interactive learning space for my kids.”

Adams said the lack of climate control also affects the testing environment for her students.

“The heat makes them tired, cranky and sick, that’s not conducive to a productive learning environment,” she said.

Parents of students across the district said they can see both reasons for passing the bond issue and denying it but many said that the benefits for them outweigh the cost to property owners.

“I can see the opposition’s point of not wanting more taxes, especially on a fixed income,” said Madesta Metz-Stanley, 34, of Fleming. “But our children deserve better than what we’ve provided them so far. And it’s an investment in the entire community. Better schools bring people into the area to buy homes, build their lives and their families. That means that we can attract more taxpayers and build the economy.”

Metz-Stanley said as a graduate of Warren High School as well as a parent of an elementary student she hopes that the community will put the “future of our children” ahead of private agendas when casting their vote.

Likewise Angela Burdiss, 46, of Barlow, believes the bond issue is the “best deal” for the intended outcome.

“This plan has a better layout to facilitate learning across each grade,” said the mother of both a middle schooler and a high schooler. “It just makes more sense for how the facility would be used to not only promote better learning but better health in the students. Right now the freshmen barely use their lockers because their classes are so far away from that hallway. That creates back issues to carry all of those heavy books all day.”

Burdiss also sees merit in utilizing the current elementary buildings in Little Hocking and Warren as community centers like the former school in Cutler.

“They have that for sporting events and craft fairs and even an exercise room and a place for seniors now,” she said. “What a wonderful benefit to add to a community.”

However farm owner Ken Pottmeyer, 64, of Watertown, who has properties in Warren Township, believes the current issue and renovation plans have too many bells and whistles attached to it.

“We are all for school spirit and better education for our kids,” he said. “But our overriding concern is all of the extras that are attached to what is essentially a loan that the taxpayers are on the hook for over the next 30 years.”

Other additions besides a new high school building, a new elementary and additional renovations to the middle school include the moving of baseball fields, the addition of turf to the football fields and more community green space and use of playgrounds.

“Yes our teachers need spaces to teach our kids, so let’s take care of that education first,” Pottmeyer said. “Let’s have the fun stuff later.”

But Newton says given the current climate of the economy, now is the best time to act and receive the lowest price passed on to local taxpayers.

“All indicators are that in the coming years property values are going to go up as the economy stabilizes,” he said. “We really should take advantage of the low match we have now before it’s gone. Otherwise we’ll be looking at matches that are similar to what Marietta, Belpre and Fort Frye would be looking at right now to do the same thing. Belpre would have to have a 56 percent match right now, and Marietta and Fort Frye almost two-thirds more than that.”

Allen and Newton encouraged all local residents to attend the next informational meeting to occur at Warren Elementary on Monday. At 5 p.m. the operations committee will meet and then provide a school tour to those present, then at 6 p.m. a bond informational meeting will take place with renderings on display of the proposed improvements for the district.

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