Buckeye Local Schools presents proposed self-funded plan for facilities

YORK TWP. — Buckeye Schools is proposing addressing its facility concerns with a new self-funded strategy. The district presented its proposed plan during a board of education meeting on Tuesday. No action had been taken on the proposal as of Tuesday. Superintendent Jeff Stanton said after Buckeye's bond issue failed again in May, the district began brainstorming ways to address its issues with facilities while listening and seeking feedback from the community. "No new taxes. We hear it loud and clear," he said. "The need for better facilities is absolutely understood, but it must be addressed in existing resources, if possible." In the new plan, the current high school would become the junior high school, Stanton said. A new high school would be constructed at Wolff Road and Columbia Road with one gym. The alumni stadium would continue to be used and would remain at its current location. "It includes appropriate classroom spaces in line with (Ohio Facilities Construction Commission) recommendations," he said. "We are going to project for our future enrollment. We are going to have our academic spaces that are going to be taken care of and enhance our arts and our music programs." Treasurer Mark Donnelly said he talked to experts, crunched the numbers and looked at different scenarios, and he feels confident in the self-funded plan for facilities. "I want our staff, our students and our community to understand we are safe and sound," he said. "We are operating, and we're not going to be making all kinds of serious cuts because of the new building. That's not going to happen." The estimated cost for the project is between $59 million and $65 million, Donnelly said. By June 30, the goal is to have $40 million in the district's cash reserve for capital projects and take out a 20-year, $23 million Certificate of Participation loan. "Next summer, we'll have that $63 million, but we don't spend it all right away," he said. "What will happen over the next couple years is those funds will earn interest, and we'll get $2.5 to $3 million more of interest. Our project funds will actually be $65 million plus." Over time, Buckeye's cash reserves grew slowly because previous treasurers were fiscally conservative, Donnelly said. "This was not possible in previous years," board member Roy Salazar said. "We are on the cusp of being able to utilize our capital to provide the solutions." Once the district finishes its master facilities plan, Buckeye can receive a 19 percent credit from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for allowable expenses, Donnelly said. "After eight to 10 years, maybe sooner, the (Ohio Facilities Construction Commission) money will come in," he said. "The amount of money received then may pay off the remainder of the debt at that time. There's no promises, because there's a lot of unknowns, but it's going to be in the neighborhood of $10 to $12 million." A town hall meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Aug. 20 at the high school auditorium, where community members are encouraged to provide their feedback about the proposed plan. Then, the board of education will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Aug. 25 in the high school media center to vote on the proposal. If the board approves the proposal, the estimated timeline is: Hire an architect and construction manager at risk, hold vision sessions with the community and begin the design phase this fall. Start construction in spring 2027. Finish construction in summer 2029. To see a list of responses to frequently asked questions about the proposal, visit tinyurl.com/4ew4fpev. "We're not asking for your financial support," Donnelly said. "We're just asking for your support." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.