Perkins details bond issue facts

PERKINS TWP. — Perkins Schools stakeholders now have additional details about the upcoming ballot issue. Known as Issue 2 on the May ballot, the school district is proposing a 6.7-mill, 37-year bond issue for a $76 million construction project. If approved by voters, the bond issue to construct a new building for grades 6-12 and be repaid at a 5% interest rate during the 37-year period. If approved, the bond issue would increase property taxes for the owner of a $100,000 home by about $237 a year, district officials said. The board's recent decisions mean they agreed with what a facilities committee of district parents, educators, residents and others recommended: to construct separate new schools for grades 6-12 and P-5 based on feedback from taxpayers. In December, these recommendations from the committee were adopted for Perkins Schools' master plan: • Phase 1: Construct a new middle/high school building for grades 6-12 behind Firelands Health Stadium along Strub Road. Once it's finished, older students will move to their new school, and preschool through fifth-grade students would have classes at the current Perkins High School. • Phase 2: The district could tear down Briar Middle School and build a new school for P-5 students at Briar's current location; or Furry Elementary, Briar Middle School and Meadowlawn Intermediate could be sold, demolished or repurposed. The $76 million bond issue will not cover this phase. If the bond issue is approved, the design process would likely take about a year followed by roughly two years of construction. The Class of 2027 — this fall's incoming high school freshmen — would be the first class to graduate from the new 6-12 building, facilities committee members said. Perkins Schools cited its facilities as one of its most important priorities when officials created the district's strategic plan — for daily operations and future planning — which was adopted in January 2020. Discussions about Perkins' school buildings have increased in recent months because student enrollment is expected to decline from about 1,800 students in 2020 to about 1,750 students by 2030. Additionally, the educational facilities are aging and the way students are being taught in classrooms is changing, school officials said. For instance, while Furry Elementary, Meadowlawn Intermediate and Briar Middle School were initially constructed in the 1950s and 1960s and added on to years after, Perkins High School's oldest portions were built in 1905 and 1934 with additions included through the 1950s to 1970s. Fanning Howey, an architectural firm that's assisted area districts like Margaretta Schools with facilities planning in recent years, provided construction cost estimates for the proposed buildings and was hired by board members and has guided the committee during the master plan process. Q&A This week, Perkins Schools provided taxpayers these frequently asked questions — with their corresponding answers — in an informational flyer: Q: What is the difference between a bond issue and an operating levy? A: Operating levies generate money for a school district's day-to-day operating costs, such as teachers' salaries, classroom materials, benefits, and utilities. Bond issues raise money that, by law, can only be used for capital improvements, such as building construction, renovations, and major equipment purchases. Issue 2 on the May 2023 ballot is a bond issue. Q: Does the bond issue include any funds to renovate the high school for elementary students? A: Yes, Issue 2 includes some funding needed to make necessary updates and renovations to the existing Perkins High School so it can better accommodate our elementary grade students. This includes moving plumbing fixtures to lower heights, providing a fenced playground, replacing signage and minor work to walls and doors. Q: Why isn't the district partnering with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for matching funds from the state to help fund our building needs? A: Due to the amount of matching funds our district qualified for through the (commission) — only 7% — and the numerous state requirements that would add cost to the project, Perkins Schools and our facility advisory committee decided it was in the best interest of our students and community to not participate in the partnership with the state facilities construction commission. In addition, Perkins' wait time for reimbursement from the state, with participation in the state program, is estimated at 10 years if state leadership continues funding for the program. Q: What is the "homestead exemption," and who qualifies for it? A: The "homestead exemption" allows qualifying low-income senior citizens and disabled Ohioans to reduce their property tax bills by exempting up to $25,000 of the appraised value of their homes from all local property taxes. Qualifying veterans may receive an exemption of up to $50,000. Application forms and more information are available on the Erie County auditor's website. Q: What is the timeline if this issue passes? How long would it take to build the new school? A: With voter approval of Issue 2, the design process would commence and take about a year to complete. That would be followed by about two years of construction. We anticipate that Perkins High School's Class of 2027 would be the first to graduate from the new middle school/high school building. Q: Why would we keep the current high school when it is the oldest building? A: It is true that the north end of Perkins High School dates back to 1905. However, that is just a small portion of the current building — and the most-recent facility additions and renovation work in the district have occurred at the high school. A team of engineers and experts also have determined that Perkins High School is considered to be our most structurally sound school building. In addition, its location allows for the vision of our facility advisory committee for a community-central, single-campus school location that recognizes and preserves Perkins' history to be realized. Q: Why are we building a middle/high school first? A: After much research and discussion with the community and experts, the facility advisory committee recommended this action to the Perkins board members. This plan will allow the largest amount of our current students to benefit from a new school, take advantage of our current building resources (by renovating the existing high school for younger students), and be the most cost-effective for taxpayers. A new PK-12 facility was also strongly considered, but was deemed cost-prohibitive. Q: Who are the people on the facility advisory committee? A: This group — formed out of our strategic planning process — is comprised of Perkins Schools administrators, board members, teachers, parents, community leaders, business owners, elected officials and members of social organizations. Less than 50% of the committee members are employed by the district. Q: What does "phase two" include and when would that happen? A: After passage of Issue 2 and design and construction of the new middle/high school, elementary students will move into the current Perkins High School with the necessary renovations to that building. The district anticipates significant operations savings due to the consolidated to a two-building, one-site campus. The district and community will then revisit options for "phase two" which recommends constructing a new elementary building. Currently, there is no timeline established for this project. Q: How does the facility plan factor in our declining student enrollment? A: By consolidating into two school buildings on one campus location (from our current four), the facility plan allows for more flexibility, year by year, for enrollment fluctuations. The project architect will design the new middle/high school building and right-size it based on a comprehensive enrollment study. _ Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood