Tuesday, May 21, 2002
City schools set to start building
Voters still must approve bond issue
By Jennifer Mrozowski jmrozowski@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Let the building begin. The board of education of Cincinnati Public Schools on Monday unanimously approved a nearly $1 billion decade-long construction project to build 35 new schools and renovate 31 more.
By the project's end in 2012, CPS will have 66 school buildings, 14 fewer than today. As planned, the construction project is the biggest public works project the city has ever seen.
The district has enough money lined up to start the first segment of the project, but officials will have to ask taxpayers for a bond issue of about $480 million to complete all four phases.
Rick Williams, board president, said the new and renovated schools will replace worn-out, aging schools and will be a source of civic pride.
“Every building will meet or exceed high state standards and support 21st century technology,” he said.
“This plan is for the greater good of our city, our neighborhoods and — most importantly — our students.”
Though several school board members had reservations about a few points of the plan, and more than a dozen community members came out to protest closing of several schools, the full board gave it the go-ahead.
The next step will be to consider funding for the entire plan. Board members have not decided when to ask taxpayers for the money to pay for it.
The district has lined up around $300 million to complete the first phase of the four-segment $985 million project. That money comes in part from agreements made with the city and Hamilton County for annual payments in lieu of taxes for Paul Brown Stadium and the new Reds Great American Ball Park. Other revenue comes from redirected debt payments. Now that the past debt is paid off, the money will be re-directed into the project.
As part of the first phase, con struction will begin this summer on the new Rockdale Academy, a $14 million elementary school in Avondale. It will be the first school built in Cincinnati in two decades. The historic, but now abandoned, Condon School will be demolished to make way for the new Rockdale.
Phase one includes building 15 new schools and renovating two.
The district doesn't have enough to pay for the remaining three segments. That's where the state and taxpayers factor in.
Through a state program to rebuild Ohio's schools, the state will contribute around 23 percent of the cost of each segment as long as the district can pay for the rest. The total the state could contribute is about $211 million.
Residents will be asked to pay the remaining $480 million through a bond issue. Though board members have not yet determined a date for the bond issue vote, some say they'd like to see the request on the November ballot.
Board members on Monday said they're glad the program allows them to alter the plan at each segment. Some changes could re sult from rising or declining enrollment and housing trends.
Parts of later phases are already being questioned.
Board member Florence Newell said she still questions whether there's a need for a military academy. The district's master plan includes constructing a military school building around 2009, but the board has never approved creating a full-blown military school program.
The board also heard more concerns of residents who oppose some points in the plan, such as the closing of the Sands Montessori building in the West End and Hoffman Elementary in East Walnut Hills.
The Sands program is being moved to Mount Washington next fall. A new 650-student school is being planned in the Walnut Hills/Evanston area to accommodate students of Hoffman and Windsor Elementary in Walnut Hills. Windsor is also slated to close.
“Hoffman is a very good school. These are very good teachers,” said Hoffman parent Sheila Coggins-Gray. “To lump it into a school with 700 students will not benefit these children.”
Ms. Coggins-Gray handed the board a petition with about 350 signatures asking board members to reconsider the decision to close Hoffman.
Though the board approved the proposed decade-long building plan, members said they will continue discussions with Hoffman and Windsor parents on where to locate the new school.
After the meeting, Ms. Coggins-Gray said she hopes the board will listen to the community.
Jim Urling, a member of the anti-tax group Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes, asked the school board to wait before considering a bond issue.
“We haven't had the chance to analyze the specifics of a bond issue,” he said. “We need to subject it to a thorough public debate.”
Board member Harriet Russell said the assembly of the plan required much community input and that will continue throughout the next decade.
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