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new middle school will be built in Owen County some time in the
next few years and no special taxes will be raised to help pay
for it.That was one of the biggest concerns at the last of three
Local Planning Committee (LPC) meetings, held last Tuesday.
At the meeting, Superintendent Mark Cleveland and Director of
Pupil Personnel Rob Stafford took questions from those in attendance
who were worried about future building projects costing taxpayers
more money.
The LPC has been meeting for the past two years, and this is the
first year since the new high school was built that they had to
come up with a building plan. The LPC must prioritize their building
plans and make a decision on what is needed based on money and
its effect on the education of the students. By law, they must
meet every four years.
Every year the Owen County Board of Education (BOE) must decide
on whether to take the four-percent rate or the compensating rate
from the real estate and personal property tax. In the 2006-2007
fiscal yar, the four-percent rate was taken, amounting to 54 cents
for every $100 of assessed property.
From that tax, by state law, the school district must put 5.7
cents of the tax rate into a building fund. The state matches
that amount. The district also commits 100 percent of the Utility
Tax receipts to the bulding fund.
Cleveland said this was promised to the county when the tax was
passed.The state recognized the extra effort and matched the receipts
with an additional funding nickel.
This resulted in an increase from $14 million to $22 million in
bonding potential that can now be used to build a new middle school.
“I don’t see that happening again, such a large jump,”
Cleveland said.
Bonding potential depends on current debt, School Facility Construction
Commission offers of assistance, and other state and local revenue.
With the extra money put in from Utility Tax and the state, the
district could build another school like OCHS. The money comes
from the building fund, which can go to facilities only.
“I didn’t think we could build a middle school, as
the cost would be higher than an elementary school and closer
to a high school,” Cleveland said. “Then things changed.”
Cleveland, Stafford and two BOE members, Terry Patterson and Brett
McDonald, met with the Department of Education and discussed what
was needed to get plans moving. One of the most important things
was finding an acceptable building site.
The property next to the high school met the necessary requirements.
The land is 122 acres, on two ridges and was approved by the Department
of Transportation as an acceptable site; one of the prerequistites
before the property can be purchased. It would also allow the
new school to run off of the high school’s sewer line. The
district has put an option to buy on the property.
Cleveland said several things must happen, however, before the
property is purchased. This includes a letter indicating a title
search, a letter from the Transportation Cabinet determining road
accuracy and the architect’s determination of any environmental
or safety hazards.
Also discussed at the meeting were possible grade-level building
changes. The new middle school could possibly house grades five
through eight. Cleveland said the building would be set up for
future growth.
Grade configurations may be modified later, based on the prevailing
conditions.
“We have to be able to plan for growth,” he said.
“We are going to grow.”
Cleveland said he would also like to see a vocational school in
Owen County in the future.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for students,”
he said. “They can learn skills they wouldn’t get
just (by) coming to high school.”
About 70 Owen County students are sent to Carroll County for vocational
school. About 23 students were turned away from one program. The
vocational schools are open to juniors and seniors only, but if
there was one in the county it could be opened to freshman and
sophomores as well.
As for other school buildings in the county, they will not be
rebuilt for some time, but there could be some changes when the
middle school moves. The current middle school could be renovated
to be the elementary school, and the primary school ––
which is currently overcrowded –– could see an addition,
or the elementary could be used as a transitional building. Whatever
the case, Cleveland said if a building is opened, another one
has to be closed.
One proposal was closing the old high school. There have been
boiler and water problems in the past few years and it is only
used for storage. To renovate it would cost about $5 million.
With the money the district has now, they can take advantage and
build a more expensive school. Cleveland said a middle school
is the second most expensive facility to build ––
a high school is the first.
“We wouldn’t be talking about a new middle school
if we weren’t at $22 million bonding potential,” he
said.
Questions were asked throughout the meeting concerning the money
that would be spent and its effect on taxes.
Stafford assured them the money came from taxes they already paid,
and no additional tax would be needed.
One parent wanted to know about school books, saying she didn’t
understand why there were books needed in some classes but money
was going toward a new building.
Stafford said the bonding potential must be used for the facilities
or it wouldn’t be used at all. There is a general fund that
covers all other monetary issues for the schools.
Both Stafford and Cleveland were concerned about the public’s
misconception about the money that would be used, and what would
happen with the old high school.
“We want a functional building that’s good for our
kids,” Stafford said.
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