SHELBY — A new pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade building proposal for Shelby is officially going back to the ballot.
The district’s board of education unanimously voted on Monday to put a bond issue on the Nov. 6 ballot to fund the pre-k through eighth grade building proposal. According to Supt. Tim Tarvin, it’s the district’s last opportunity to pass the issue.
“We’re hopeful that people understand the need,” Tarvin said. “We’re talking about buildings that were built as far back at the Truman administration.”
The biggest difference between this 37-year ballot proposal and the two previous attempts is this proposal addresses only the new school building, not the crumbling football stadium at W.W. Skiles Field.
“The community spoke very loudly in November and May that they could not support what we were putting on the ballot,” Tarvin said at the June board of education meeting. “At some point we have to listen to what the community is saying.”
Shelby voters first rejected the district’s first attempt at passing a levy to build a new school and a new football stadium on the Nov. 7, 2017 general election. Official results from the Richland County Board of Elections showed 2,263 votes (58.63 percent) against the bond issue, and 1,597 votes (41.37 percent) for the issue.
The issue was rejected again on the May 8 primary election. Official results from the Richland County Board of Elections showed 2,229 votes (62.04 percent) against the bond issue, and 1,364 votes (37.96 percent) in favor.
According to Tarvin, this is the district’s last chance to take advantage of funding from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC). Currently, Shelby is eligible to receive 50 percent of construction costs from the state.
“This is our last real opportunity – if we don’t pass this in November, Shelby City Schools are going to get kicked down the list of being able to accept money from the state,” he said. “Other schools going on the ballot will bypass us.”
The cost to build a new pre-k through eighth grade building would be $33.6 million total, with the state paying $16.8 million and the Shelby City Schools district contributing $6.6 million towards the project. This means a new building would only cost the voters $10.2 million.
In addition, the millage for the project dropped from 4.6 mills in May 2018 to an estimated 2.8 mills on the November 2018 ballot. Assuming the county auditor certifies the millage rate, the estimated monthly cost for a $90,000 home in Shelby will be $7.35.
The district is proposing to build a 132,000 square-foot building connected to the current middle school in order to utilize the current gym, music rooms and David Jones Little Theater. No money would go towards renovating the current middle school. The board of education offices would be moved to the middle school, and Auburn, Central and Dowds would be sold or demolished.
“This is our last real opportunity to take advantage of the state giving us $16 million,” Tarvin emphasized. “We want to make sure we get out there with a lot of energy as we head into the school year and make sure people understand the issue, and we certainly appreciate their support.”
