School Board Sends $134.8 Million Bond Issue To Voters

The Cleveland Heights - University Heights School Board unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday to send a $134.8 million bond issue to the voters in November.

The vote is only the first reading and not final since the board will need to approve it again at the next meeting July 2.

Before the vote, board members said the time is now to move forward on rehabbing the district's aging buildings.

Board President Ron Register said the facilities plan represents "the lowest cost we can get to do this."

"We can't pass this opportunity up," he said.

Board member Eric Coble said the community stepped up about a century ago, despite opposition, to build the schools to prepare students for the 20th century.

"Now it's our turn," he said. "This is us getting ready for the 21st century."

If the voters approve the bond issue in November, the proceeds would largely pay for the first phase of the district's facilities plan.

The facilities plan seeks to modernize the school district's aging buildings and bring its facilities in line with its student population. The total project is expected to cost more than $230 million and be broken into two phases that involves closing some schools and rehabilitating others.

The levy would raise the vast majority of the cost of the first phase, with the rest coming from private donations and loans.

Cleveland Heights High School and the middle schools would be rehabilitated in the first phase. The elementary schools would be handled in the second phase, which would cost an additional $80 million and occur at least five years down the road.

"Our schools are dated, inefficient, and too expensive to operate," said Patrick Mullen, the chairman of the district's Lay Facilities Committee, which drafted and recommended the plan to the school board. "When it comes to supporting educational programs, they are borderline at best. Teachers and students are doing a good job in spite of these buildings."

The Lay Facilities Committee's recommendation called for closing Noble and Fairfax elementary schools and Wiley Middle School.

Boulevard Elementary School would be rebuilt. The four remaining elementary schools, the two remaining middle schools and the high school would be renovated.

Click here to see the committee's report.