By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LEBANON - Despite anticipating the opening of two new schools next year, Lebanon education officials say they want to remind residents that the Warren County school system still has six older buildings that need tax money for repairs and renovation.

And some Lebanon residents see the 2-mill, permanent improvement levy renewal on the Nov. 4 ballot as an opportunity to pass judgment on how the 4,650-student district has been doing in recent years.

The Lebanon Board of Education heard Tuesday evening that the new Lebanon High School, off Drake Road, and the new Bowman Elementary, off Hart Road, are being constructed on schedule, to open for the 2004 school year.

Lebanon parent Mona Bailey said the district would get her vote next month to renew a levy, which would bring $1.1 million annually for the schools.

"The schools have improved and are getting much better," Bailey said. "My husband and I were saying that if our money has to go to anything it has to be to the youth."

Parent Dean Milburn, who has three children in Lebanon schools, said he'll also support the renewal levy, which will not raise property taxes, because he is impressed with the district's performance.

"They are doing a hell of a job," said Milburn, who moved his family from Cincinnati 10 years ago so that his children could attend Lebanon schools.

In other business, Lebanon Superintendent Bill Sears said he continues to explore with other Warren County superintendents the idea of combining efforts to create a school for creative and performing arts for students countywide.

Sears said the effort is in the preliminary stage but that initial reaction is positive.

E-mail mclark@enquirer.com