Press Release
For Immediate Distribution
Date: July 6th, 2016
Re: Proposed Bond Issue for SWL
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The Board of Education is pursuing placing a bond issue for a building project on the November 8th, 2016 ballot. This scope of the project includes building a new high school and a new 4th and 5th grade building on the already board owned land at Smoke Road and US 40. Renovating the current high school into a middle school, and updating and improving all the elementary buildings turning them into neighborhood K-3 schools.
There have been questions regarding the fate of the current middle school. It is financially prohibitive to continue using it as a school building and there are serious maintenance concerns which may result in the building being too expensive to maintain under any condition. If so, money for abatement and demolition is included in the current bond proposal.
The SWL Board has directed a "task force" be formed to study possible uses and the financial liability to the District. Such uses may include:
- athletic facilities needs after the new high school is built and the old high school change to middle school is completed.
- use by other community groups and organizations
If the fate of the middle school is partial or full abatement/demolition - the SWL Board is committed to providing the necessary athletic facilities as the high school outdoor facilities remain at the current site
Finally, we are pleased to announce that we received information that our anticipated interest rate for this bond issue has decreased from 5% to 4.5% This means our estimated 6.8 mill bond will be closer to 6.5. (pending official calculations from the Licking County Auditor)
As always, please contact the district office if you have any questions.
