Voters OK school project by comfortable margin

Voters easily passed St. Marys City Schools' 6.9-mill bond levy with 61 percent in favor of a school construction project.

Actual vote numbers were: 2,511 for and 1,614 against.

The levy will bring in $25.75 million toward the $55 million project, with the Ohio School Facilities Commission funding the remaining $29.25 million.

Next step is a year's worth of planning and design before construction begins on a new high school/junior high building.

"(Passing the levy) was never a given. We took nothing for granted," said St. Marys Superintendent Ken Baker on Tuesday night at the county administration building following the vote count. "We never stopped taking the information out to the folks. In fact, my wife and I were passing out door hangers last night as we walked the dog."

Baker said he's grateful to voters and for the "excellent job" the levy committee has done in getting the community involved. He promised the community will continue to be involved as plans and designs for the new school are developed during the next year.

The new facility will be located on a 73-acre tract of land located at the corner of U.S. 33 and state Route 66. The district already has employed Celina architect firm, Fanning/Howey Associates.