The Columbus Board of Education signed off Tuesday on a plan to place a 4.7 mill permanent improvement levy and a $680 million bond on the November ballot. The board approved the measure 5-2.
The bond issue is for segments four and five of the district's Facilities Master Plan, and, if approved, will build five new buildings in the next five years.
The fourth segment calls for the construction of five new school buildings by 2027, while the fifth segment would start the design phase in 2025 five additional buildings.
The five new buildings that would be built as a part of the fourth phase include:
- A new high school with the capacity to serve 1,600 students at the current site of Marion-Franklin High School and the former Beery Middle School in south Columbus.
- A new high school with the capacity to serve 2,000 students at the current site of Beechcroft High School in northeast Columbus.
- A new middle school with the capacity to serve 1,000 students at the current site of Mifflin Middle School in northeast Columbus.
- A new elementary school with the capacity to serve 600 students at the current site of Winterset Elementary School in northwest Columbus.
- A new elementary school with the capacity to serve 600 students at the current site of Eakin Elementary School in southwest Columbus.
The district said their request asks Columbus homeowners to invest approximately $267 in additional property tax each year (based on a $100,000 home), which is approximately a 13% increase in total property tax.
During Tuesday's meeting, board president Jennifer Adair said the proposal isn't just about new buildings.
"This is about building communities of learning that effectuate the portrait that allow our students to be portrait ready to have rigorous education and opportunities educationally, career wise, bringing them together in these communities that the rest of the state has." Adair said.
Board member Dr. Tina Pierce voted against the measure because of questions related to the fifth phase of the facilities plan.
"The goal is to ensure that our community understands that our entire board is committed to making sure that there are safe schools that are modern, that have the amenities that are for our students and staff. But again, noting that there are some remaining questions that I have around segment five," Pierce said.
