The Elida Board of Education voted unanimously to add a 2.8-mill bond and a 0.5-mill levy to the May 2018 ballot, which will be used to provide funds to demolish the old Elida Elementary School and build an updated, modern facility for Elida elementary students.
Bryan Reynolds The Lima News
LIMA — The Elida Board of Education was thinking about the future during its meeting Tuesday as members unanimously voted to add a 2.8-mill bond issue and a new 0.50-mill levy to the May 2018 ballot.
The 30-year bonds would total $17.9 million and be used to build a new elementary school. The bond issue and the levy would be combined as a single ballot issue.
Elida schools will soon be receiving a total of $18.1 million in tax credits for building the high school and the new elementary school, should the vote on the bonds and levy pass in May, said Board Treasurer Joel Parker. The credit comes from a grant system the state began about 20 years ago.
At that time, the state ranked all of the schools based on the property wealth of each local region per student, Parker noted. Then the state began with the poorest locations, giving them money to help build new schools, working its way down the list to the wealthier locations. It’s taken that time to reach Elida, Parker said.
Elida Superintendent Joel Mengerink said the current school is an old building and the staff and students don’t have a lot of room to suit their needs. Currently the 5th graders are currently housed in the middle school, while pre-school students are in the high school building, he said. If the new elementary school project happens, both of those groups will be moved into the new building, freeing up room in the middle school and high school.
The systems are at the end of their life spans in the old elementary building, as well. The facilities also don’t have the modern conveniences and designs necessary to provide students with the quality education they deserve, Mengerink said.
While the board does not have a design for the new school yet, saying that will not happen unless the vote passes, they do have an idea of the size and amenities the new building will need.
“We have a foot print of what the building will look like,” said board member Pat Schymanski.
As May gets closer, the school board will hold a few community meetings where board members will lay out the need for a new elementary school and attempt to convince Elida residents why it would be a good investment, Parker said.
Reach Bryan Reynolds at 567-242-0362.
