WOODVILLE, OH (WTOL) - District leaders with Woodmore Local Schools hope the third time is the charm when it comes to getting a levy approved to build a new elementary school. Leaders believe a March election could be the last chance at securing more than $7 million dollars in state funding.
The district wants to build a new elementary school, pointing to multiple maintenance issues at Woodville Elementary.
Principal Linda Bringman said there is a near constant shuffle of students because classrooms are often unusable. Twice this school year, second graders have had to relocate to other rooms because their classroom floods with heavy rains.
Crews are currently working to repair the roof, costing more than $22,000, after the walls in a third-floor fifth grade classroom became damp, and started to crumble.
"It gets more difficult, it seems like, as the days go on. We keep finding more issues with the building," said Bringman.
Voters have rejected levy requests to build a new elementary school in 2009 and again in November of 2011. Last year's levy attempt failed by 250 votes. District leaders said they refuse to give up.
"I do think its important, in my position that we look out for the welfare of our students and do what we can to put them in a safe healthy environment where they can learn best," said Superintendent John Fernbaugh.
The district has adjusted the levy request for this third attempt. Leaders have postponed plans to build a new auditorium, and in turn lowered the request to 5.4 mills.
It will cost the school district $22.7 million to build the new elementary school. The State of Ohio has pledged to pay $7 million, or 32% of the project cost, but local taxpayers must pay the remaining $15.7 million of the cost.
"It is a do or die time, we have to pass a levy by August first in order for the OSFC to provide us with $7 million," said Fernbaugh.
Fernbaugh said he unsure if the district would be able to get back on the ballot before that deadline.
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