CH-UH School Board Sends $134.8 Million Bond Levy To Voters

UPDATE: The Cleveland Heights - University Heights School Board unanimously approved a resolution to ask voters to approve a levy to pay for $134.8 million in bonds to renovate the district's high school and middle schools.

This was the board's final approval, and now the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections will work to place the item on the November ballot.

"I think this is going to be a really exciting campaign and I'm looking forward to it," said School Board Ron Register. "I think this is the high point in my career on the school board."

Register praised his fellow board members for their "courage" and ability to get the work done.

Stay tuned to Cleveland Heights Patch for more on the bond levy. 

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The Cleveland Heights - University Heights School Board will hold its final vote tonight on whether to send a $134.8 million bond levy to voters in November.

The bond levy would provide the vast majority of funding for the school board's plan to renovate the district's school buildings, starting with Cleveland Heights High School and the middle schools.

The board unanimously approved a resolution last month to send a $134.8 million bond issue to the voters in November.

An affirmative vote tonight means final passage. Cleveland Heights Patch will cover the meeting and provide immediate updates.

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.

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.