MORE: Greenon discusses plans for new schools in forum
Greenon went to voters seeking new schools in 2013 and failed. Last year leaders held several community forums to get input on how to improve schools they say are old and cannot support modern teaching technology. The district currently has three buildings: Enon Primary, Indian Valley Intermediate and Greenon High School.
“The high school is rated by the school facility commission as the building with the highest need,” Superintendent Brad Silvus said. “And not surprisingly Enon and Indian Valley are very close behind.”
The district saw support for new schools during the school forums. Many said they wanted to be sure their children would get an education in a functional school building. However, others said they didn’t believe the community can afford to build new schools.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Greenon school leaders debate building choices as residents split
Enon resident Greg Goeber said he’s retired and cannot afford the increase in his property taxes.
“I am tired of property taxes always going up,” he said. “I will vote against the issue because it affects me drastically.”
Greenon should have further explored an income tax to pay for new schools, Goeber said, instead of taxing the property of residents who simply live in the district. The district needs new schools, he said, but it needs a different plan to pay for them.
“An income tax would give us old folks a reason to vote,” Goeber said.
Silvus said the district talked about an income tax, but during the forums residents expressed more support for a property tax.
Another concern some parents and community members have is that the district wants to build one large school instead of keeping three schools. Some parents have voiced worries about having the younger children in the same building as high school students.
Cara Grisby is a parent of an Enon second grader and a supporter of the bond issue. She said she has heard some parents take issue with the one school model. However, she said mentoring opportunities would be valuable for the district.
“When my daughter was in kindergarten, fourth graders came over and did some STEM activities and she is still talking about it,” Grisby said. “She likes being taught by the older kids. I don’t think it is going to be an issue at all.”
Grisby said the current schools aren’t good enough and the district needs to pass the bond issue.
Silvus said the district will make sure younger students aren’t walking the same halls as high school students.
“When we get to the design phase, we will be able to design it into wings where there is a pre-k through fourth grade wing, a fifth through eighth grade wing and a ninth through 12th grade wing,” Silvus said. “There will be minimal interaction between ages.”
RELATED: Survey points to two-school option for Greenon Local Schools
For a district the size of Greenon, one building is a lot more efficient, Silvus said.
“We will only have one facility to maintain as oppose to three separate and then it also allows us to better utilize our staff,” he said. “Right now we have staff members who have to travel between buildings two or three times a day and they will be all under one roof.”
The margin between the district winning or losing at the ballot might be slim, Silvus said, and they need parents who are willing to spend some time at the polls.
“We are hopeful that all of our parents will get out to vote,” he said. “We know there is a large group of supporters for Greenon Local Schools and the big thing is to make sure they are active and get out to the polls and vote. If we can get those people out I think we will have a good shot at this.”
Continuing Coverage
The Springfield News-Sun has covered the Greenon Local Schools pursuit for new schools for several years and will continue to dig into the issue.
By the Numbers
$54 million: The total cost to build a new pre-k through 12th grade school building.
$36 million: The total amount that Greenon residents will have to pay over 37 years
$18 million: The amount that Ohio will pay for Greenon’s new school through the Ohio School Facility Commission
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