By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

This is the fourth in a series of stories previewing the Feb. 4 special election.

BATAVIA - An elementary school large enough for 1,100 students would be built in the Batavia Schools if voters approve a 5.9-mill bond issue Tuesday.

The 126,930-square-foot building would replace the district's elementary school, which was built in 1916 and has been expanded three times, said superintendent Paul Varney.

The $18.4 million that the bond issue would provide will pay for the first phase of a two-phase master facilities plan. The $13.4 million second phase would include renovations to the middle school and minor improvements to the high school, Varney said.

The owner of a house with a market value of $100,000 would pay an additional $180.69 annually until the project's first phase is paid for in about 28 years, Varney said.

Not everyone in the district supports the bond issue. Kathy Hlass said the Batavia board isn't listening to voters who rejected a similar bond issue in November. She has no confidence a new building would be maintained.

"I don't think it's absolutely necessary,'' said Hlass, who home-schools her two children. "If they didn't take care of the one (elementary school) they have now, why should we expect them to take care of a new one?"

Hlass said if the bond issue passers, voters are likely to be asked to approve an operating levy and a second bond issue in a short period of time.

To fully fund the two-phase plan, which has been approved by the school board and the Ohio School Facilities Commission, a second, smaller bond issue would have to be approved in the future, Varney said.

Should that happen, the district would be eligible for a 34 percent reimbursement from the state, Varney said. He estimated that wouldn't occur until sometime between 2008 and 2010.

If approved, the elementary school would be constructed at the 59-acre high school site and would open during the 2005-06 school year. Fifth-graders would move back to the elementary school when the new structure is complete, Varney said.

The building is needed to accommodate a growing student enrollment, Varney said. In the past three years, enrollment increased by 189 students and now stands at 1,925. Projections call for the district to grow to 2,340 students by 2007.

Parent Pat Webb is heading the effort to pass the issue even though her twin sixth-grade daughters would likely be out of school by the time both phases are completed.

"I'm involved because I see the value of the project - not because my children will benefit,'' Webb said.

Residents may tour the elementary school, 215 Broadway, during an open house 7 p.m. today. Officials will be available to answer questions about the project.

E-mail suek@infi.net