New PreK-5 building part of North Olmsted City Schools’ combined new-money issue going on

NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio — Doing more with less is the North Olmsted City Schools’ new plan it introduced last week addressing financial and facility needs.

A year after residents voted down an 8.5-mill operating levy, the district is returning to the ballot on May 3 with a combined new-money issue that if passed — costing a $100,000 homeowner $22.90 per month — will not only provide funds for operations but also construct a new PreK-5 building at the current Pine Elementary site.

The announced tax increase came after the district — which is suffering through decreased enrollment, flat funding and financial deficit — spent the end of 2021 taking the community’s temperature through listening sessions and online surveys

“We learned more about what the community’s aspirations were for the district,” North Olmsted City Schools Superintendent David J. Brand said. “It was pretty clear the community wanted a long-term solution. The community is passionate about being a great city to raise a family. Education is a big part of that.

“That led us to the most fiscally responsible plan in both the short and long-term. Frankly, this is the cheapest solution but also the best academically and most beneficial to the community. By combining the issues, we’re able to ask for less. If not, we would have needed it an 8.5-mill operating levy.”

The combined issue — an estimated 5-mill operating levy and $58 million bond issue — also includes the district making an additional $1.2 million in reductions.

This is on top of the anticipated $800,000 in savings related to the recently announced closing of Forest and Spruce primary schools at the end of the school year due to district enrollment declining 17 percent over the past 15 years.

“We heard pretty loud and clear that as a district we needed to tighten some things up,” Brand said. “So $2 million in reductions is pretty significant. We have some very tough decisions regarding those reductions, which we’ll be announcing in February and March. We have a collective bargaining process to go through first.”

Another driving factor regarding a new facility is the district’s remaining half-century-old elementary school buildings, which over the next decade will require $60 million in major improvements related to aging windows, antiquated HVAC systems and cracked foundations.

The superintendent said the Dover Center Road site for the proposed PreK-5 building is a great location.

“At nearly 20 acres, it’s one of our largest pieces of property that’s buildable for us and centrally located in the community,” Brand said. “It’ll be one building but it’s going to have a small school feel to it with early learning, primary and intermediate sections.

“Also, the high school is off Dover Center Road, so both educational campuses would be close together with police and fire nearby.”

If the combined issue passed, Brand said the district will move into the design phase with a goal to open the new elementary building by the 2025-2026 school year.

In the meantime, the superintendent invites community members to attend question-and-answer meetings scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight (Jan. 10) and Jan. 19 at the administration building on Butternut Ridge Road.

Considering the deadline to file the ballot issue for the May primary election is Feb. 2, the board intends to vote on a resolution to proceed at their next regular meeting scheduled for Jan. 26.

“I hope people hear that we took their feedback, we built upon the plan that’s been in the works for over a decade and it’s time to act,” Brand said. “It’s urgent. We’re in fiscal caution with the state. We don’t have enough funds to operate the 2023-2024 school year.

“We need safer and more educationally appropriate elementary facilities. This is an exciting opportunity for the community to rally together. It’s something that will benefit the community for years to come. It’ll benefit the students and it will be the most financially sound and at the lowest costs.”

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