ONTARIO — Ontario’s youngest classrooms turn 25 this year.
The original Stingel Elementary School was built in 1957, followed by the original high school in 1960. The district expanded its facilities with building additions in 2000 and 2001.
That was the year President George Bush took office, Wikipedia launched and Alicia Keys released her first album.
Now, school district officials say it’s time for some renovations.
“We’ve seen cross sections of pipes that look like clogged arteries,” said school board president Todd Friend. “Some of these are original pipes from 1960 in the high school.”
Residents of the Ontario school district will see a new bond issue on the ballot in May.
If approved, the 30-year bond issue would generate about $40.3 million for renovating and maintaining the district’s existing facilities.
If Ontario is able to secure the funds, the district will receive a $19 million match from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, an agency that (among other things) manages state funds for construction and renovation of public K-12 schools.
The OFCC approved Ontario Local Schools for the funding last year, but the district must secure local funding to access it.
The district will also need to complete a list of renovations deemed essential by the agency.
The district’s website lists the primary renovations identified by the OFCC, along with estimated costs for consideration. They include:
- Heating systems: $17,828,807.
- Ventilation/air conditioning: $6,799.
- Roofing: $1,243,152.
- Electrical systems: $6,355,603.
- Plumbing and fixtures: $1,634,129.
- Windows: $726,072.
- Walls and chimneys: $122,017.
- General finishes: $3,408,627.
- Handicapped access: $677,803.
- Site conditions: $2,246,757.
- Exterior doors: $117,419.
- Hazardous materials: $173,559.
- Life safety systems: $722,062.
- Loose furnishings: $2,287,557.
- Technology infrastructure: $4,215,032.
- Water supply: $50,993.
“Everything on this list pretty much is an inevitability,” Friend said. “These are things that are critically important to fix sometime in the near future.
How much would this bond issue cost me?
The 5.35-mill bond issue would cost property owners approximately $187 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market (or appraised) value. Collection would begin in 2026.
Residents can get an individualized estimate of how much the levy would cost them by visiting the property search tool on the county auditor’s website. Search and click on your property, then click “more” on the right side of the red menu bar. Select “levies” from the drop-down menu.
District leaders say Ontario’s general operating and permanent improvement (PI) funds aren’t sufficient to cover the of long-term repairs identified through the Ohio Facility Construction Commission process.
An informational page on the district’s website states that if the levy fails, maintenance costs may affect the resources that are available for student programs down the line.
Friend said the school board is sympathetic to the rising costs residents are already facing. At the same time, he sees the OFCC allocation as a unique opportunity.
“We’re all community members too. We’re taxpayers and we’re very mindful of the financial impact on our community,” he said.
“These things will need fixed eventually. And if (the bond issue) doesn’t pass, we won’t have that $19 million that the OFCC will give us.”
Small percentage of funds will be used for athletic facilities
The district would also use 6.5 percent of the local bond funds for athletic facility upgrades, which aren’t eligible for OFCC funding.
Those updates include:
- New bleachers and demolition of existing bleachers: $1,686,000.
- New concession building and demolition of existing concessions: $431,000.
- New tennis courts and pavilion: $1,242,000.
Treasurer Randy Harvey said the actual cost of the athletic projects totals $3.5 million, but just $2.6 million of the funds from the bond levy will be used.
“We are funding the difference with the interest earned on the borrowing proceeds that will be invested until needed to pay for the project,” Harvey explained.
