Wadsworth Schools details ballot issue plans, shows intermediate school renderings

WADSWORTH — Construction of a new Central Intermediate School and avoidance of increased deficit spending are contingent on passage of a 9.1 mill combined Wadsworth Schools ballot issue, according to district officials. Issue 23 will be placed before Wadsworth voters Nov. 2, comprised of a 6.7-mill operating levy and 2.4-mill bond issue funding construction of a new $41 million intermediate school. That facility would be installed across 14 acres just off of Broad Street, putting it on the same campus as Wadsworth High School and Wadsworth Middle School. "There's a ton of efficiency that's added by having everything in the same campus from the new auditoriums to our athletics and for our students and parents," said Wadsworth treasurer Doug Beeman. "The (new CIS) would actually be on Grizzly Way right off of Broad Street, right at the opening entrance. We're hoping that everyone involved will find new convenience in having all of these buildings in one central area." Passage of the 9.1 mills will only amount to a 5.9-mill net annual property tax increase for Wadsworth homeowners due to a 3.2-mill past bond issue coming off the books at the same time. That 1997 measure funded construction of Franklin Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, and Wadsworth Middle School and was originally slated to collect through 2023. Beeman said community growth and lower interest rates have allowed for an early stop. A 5.9-mill annual property tax increase measures out to $206.50 per $100,000 of valuation for homeowners. While Wadsworth Schools spending essentially broke even in fiscal year 2021, projections call for a $15.8 million cash reserve to be depleted by 2024 without a new operational levy, which would be the district's first since 2011. A 10-year operational levy gap is the longest for Wadsworth Schools in 44 years. "(Passage of the ballot issue) would ensure for the foreseeable future and for the entire life of our five-year forecast that we could have a positive cash balance," said Beeman. Keeping cash reserves in the black would also allow Wadsworth to avoid credit downgrades over the next few years that could increase costs for large projects including the new Central Intermediate School. Site renderings were shown to the public last week during a public information session for Wadsworth voters. Space for a maximum of roughly 800 5th and 6th grade students as well as 125 staff members would be accommodated in the new Central Intermediate, according to plans. Concepts show large columns at the main entrance doors welcoming visitors, windowed second floor bridges crossing a sunlit cafeteria, and two auditoriums. "The highlights are that second auditorium, something the district has looked at for a long time to meet our programming needs," Beeman said. "There's extended learning areas throughout the building that allow classes to extend out there and have breakout groups. It's giving our teachers and our students additional resources." If voters approve Issue 23 and current timelines hold up, further Central Intermediate design and financial planning could take place early next year with hopes of having a construction manager chosen and all designs completed by December. Bids for the project would then be accepted at the start of 2023 before a March of that year groundbreaking, according to stated plans. School board members fielded questions on Central Intermediate School last week during a candidates forum. "I believe it is time to replace CIS," board member Julie Batey told the audience. "We did a study that said it would cost more to rehabilitate the building than it would to build a new one, just to get it up to code it was something like $21 million. CIS was part of the original plan. We were going to build it using state funds that were promised to us but, long story short, they weren't available to us any longer. Then we had to look in a different direction." The district was notified in 2019 that it was no longer eligible for more than $15 million in state funding to be put toward a new Central Intermediate after a Ohio Facilities Construction Commission study determined enough student space already existed at the current building. Wadsworth Schools entered an agreement with the state in 2009 to receive funds but later opted to delay the project, believing the existing building still had useful life and that money would still be available when the time came for replacement. "In 2008, Central Intermediate was part of the discussion," Beeman said. "It was renovated around 2000 with significant useful life in it. So, we didn't think it would be prudent at that time to replace it at that time. The useful life of the renovations were about 25 years, so that's why we're coming back to it right now." Wadsworth Schools plans to sell the current building at 151 Main Street and make efforts to preserve at least some of the structure, especially OJ Work Auditorium. Ideas for use of the old school property have included new residences, outdoor festivals, cafes, and event lawns. Contact reporter Jonathan Delozier at (330) 721-4050 or jdelozier@medina-gazette.com.