Celina schools may seek approval of bond levy

CELINA - Voters in the Celina City Schools district may be asked in 2016 to support a bond levy to fund construction.

Superintendent Jesse Steiner said the project would consolidate the district's seven buildings into three and enable the district to cut operating costs.

Steiner will present the plan at the next board meeting May 19. He did not provide details such as estimated costs during the school board's regular meeting Monday night. If the plan is approved, voters may see a bond issue on the May 2016 ballot, he said.

First, the board likely will seek renewal of a five-year emergency operating levy in May 2015. Steiner said he would not advise seeking the construction bond until that levy, which collects $4.9 million per year and was originally passed in 2011, is renewed.

Assistant superintendent Dean Giesige said the district is looking to build a new building for pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade at the site of the Primary School, formerly known as East Elementary; renovation of a building for students in sixth through eighth grade; and a new high school.

Steiner said the project is still coming together. His plan would allow the state to pick up 47 percent of almost the entire cost through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and Ohio Schools Facilities Commission.

Administrators are looking for people to join a buildings and grounds commitee, Giesige said. Steiner said if the board approved seeking the bond issue, the committee would lead the effort. It would also be responsible for determining how to proceed with building improvements if the board decided against construction or the issue failed, he said. The committee's first goal would be to determine the cost of upgrading current buildings versus the cost of new construction, Steiner said.

District maintenance supervisor Jerry Fleck and school board member Ken Fetters have agreed to serve on the committee and administrators would like to add two or three members from the public, Giesige said.

Board President Cindy Piper asked whether administrators were seeking project supporters or construction experts.

"I think anyone who is interested in our district would be a good candidate," Steiner said.

Steiner said a treasurer also is needed for an election campaign committee for next year's renewal effort.

In other business, the board

• approved a $74,392 contract with Pomeroy of Hebron, Ky., to update the district's computer servers and networks at the high school and education complex.

• accepted donations of $1,000 from Greater Celina Youth Soccer to the high school, $500 from Mercer Savings Bank to the art department for the art show Sunday and Monday, $9,100 from Mercer County Civic Foundation for the Washington, D.C., trip and SADD, and $1,500 from Kohl's through the Civic Foundation for musical programs.

• approved a 100 percent tax abatement for 12 years to Jerrold Voisinet for a 5,100-square-foot building at the existing Lock and Store business at 145 E. Market St.

• approved raising the cost of primary/elementary lunches the next school year from $2.25 to $2.30 and adding a $2.80 option on the boneless wing choice at the high school. All other lunch prices will remain the same.

• accepted the retirement of intermediate school library aide Barbara Vorhees and elementary custodian Phyllis Trisel.

• approved fall sports coaches, head football coach Trent Temple; head ninth grade football coach Matt Shindeldecker; assistant ninth-grade football Matt Hodge; assistant seventh grade football Joe Braun; eighth grade football assistant Zach Hellwarth, part time; assistant boys soccer Matt Leugers; head girls soccer Cal Freeman; junior varsity volleyball Michelle Hardesty; ninth grade volleyball Caley Yoder; varsity boys golf Bret Baucher; varsity cheer advisor Julie Sommer; middle school cheer advisor Sandi Feltz; head girls tennis Jan Morrison; and head cross country Dan Otten. Piper voted against Hardesty's contract. "I have had concerns expressed to me from parents over the years," Piper said after the meeting.

• approved supplemental contracts for weight coordinator Kim Smith; assistant football coaches Jay Imwalle, Tyler Foulkes, Brennen Bader, Derek Wenning and Steve Bader; seventh grade head football coach Jason Tribolet, eighth grade head football coach Spencer Wells; eighth grade assistant football coach Matt Paulus, part time; head boys soccer coach Ryan Jenkins; JV boys soccer coach Kyle White; varsity head volleyball coach Amy Sutter; eighth grade volleyball coach Christie Binkley; seventh grade volleyball coach Kim Smith; girls golf coach Kelsey Morman; assistant cheer advisor Lisa Brunswick; assistant girls tennis coach Toma Hainline; and middle school cross country coach Matt May.

• recognized Michaela Wenning for earning Mercer County's Franklin B. Walter All-Scholastic Award.

• set June 17 for the auction of the Tri Star Career Compact house at 1216 Jill Ave., Celina.