Twinsburg wants to replace 3 school buildings with 1 new facility. What will it cost?

Twinsburg school district voters will likely consider a $107 million, 36-year bond issue on the Nov. 5 ballot to replace three school buildings with a new prekindergarten through sixth grade building.

The Twinsburg school board recently approved the first step of placing the bond issue on the fall ballot. This legislation will be sent to the Summit County Fiscal Office, which will determine how much millage is needed to raise the funds.

The expected 3.99-mill figure would cost the homeowner $140 annually for every $100,000 of value, per the fiscal office's appraised value.

The plan calls for building a new stadium behind the high school and constructing the new school where the current stadium is located.

The funds from the bond issue would be used to construct the new school for the district's prekindergarten- through sixth graders, replacing Wilcox Primary, Bissell Elementary and Dodge Intermediate schools, and to relocate the Tiger Stadium, Superintendent Kathryn Powers said.

The athletic fields would then move to the current Dodge Intermediate site.

"Our schools are a vital part of our community, and we need to ensure they are safe, functional, and conducive to learning," board President Lea Travis said during a May public forum. "The input we receive from our community members will be crucial in making the best decisions for the future of our district."

Powers said the district is participating in the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission's Expedited Local Partnership Program . As a result, the district can receive nearly $14.9 million back from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, which is about 17% of the cost of the new school's construction and the demolition of the three schools. It would not include the cost of the stadium.

A report from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission stated that four out of five of the district's schools are now at a point where necessary renovations are approaching or exceeding 66% of the cost to build new facilities, Powers said.

"This threshold, known as the 'two-thirds rule,' suggests that constructing new facilities may be more beneficial than continuing with costly repairs," Powers said. She said the high school, which opened in winter 1999, was the one exception.

The school buildings aren't the only district properties that need attention, Powers said.

"Our athletic facilities also need attention," Powers said. "This spring, the track at Tiger Stadium required emergency repairs, and our stadium now needs upgrades in order to maintain safety standards for hosting student athletic and community events. The turf at Tiger Stadium is nearing 10 years and is due to be replaced."

The school board is expected to vote to send ballot language to the Summit County Board of Elections at its July 17 meeting, Powers said.

Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Twinsburg wants to replace 3 school buildings with 1 new facility. What will it cost?