The Riverside Local Schools Board of Education voted 5-0 to put a 1.92-mill Bond Levy on the November 8 ballot.
Below are a list of frequently asked questions from parents and community members:
What is Issue 5?
Issue 5 is a 1.92-mill bond levy on the November 8 ballot that if approved by voters, will allow the District to construct two larger elementary schools while closing Hadden, Hale Road, Leroy and Madison Avenue elementary schools, which are a combined 346-years-old.
What is a bond levy?
Funds from the Issue 5 bond levy are restricted to the purposes set forth in the bond levy language - meaning they can only be used for the construction of the new elementary schools as intended. These funds cannot be used for any other type of purpose, including District operational costs such as salaries, benefits, instructional materials, or benefits.
How was Issue 5 developed?
The proposed bond levy is a result of 18 months of effort by the District’s Facilities Committee – made up of community members, parents, board members, administrators and staff – who worked to solve two problematic issues: declining enrollment and aging infrastructure. In addition, the District’s facilities were assessed by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (free of charge) and its recommendation in both 2008 and 2013 was to replace all of the school buildings except LaMuth Middle School due to poor conditions.
Why is enrollment declining?
Declining enrollment is currently an issue across the entire State of Ohio. Riverside Local Schools’ enrollment, which was more than 5,000 students as recently as 2011, has now declined to just 4,250 as of August 24, 2016. According to the Ohio Department of Education, the nine school districts in Lake County combined for 35,022 students in 1995. By 2015, that number was down to 31,800.
How much will issue 5 cost taxpayers?
If passed, Issue 5 would cost tax payers $67.20 (as little as $5.60 per month) per $100,000 property valuation annually.
Where will the two new buildings be located?
The District announced in December of 2016 that the two locations will be the current Madison Avenue site in Painesville Township and 12428 Concord-Hamdben Road in Concord Township.
Why can’t one of the new schools be built on the current Leroy Elementary site?
Much of the Leroy Elementary property is considered wetland and is not suitable for new construction.
If Issue 5 passes, what happens to the four buildings and their properties?
If Issue 5 passes, the Board will attempt to sell the properties.
Why not just renovate the existing buildings?
The OFCC estimated in 2016 that the cost to renovate all the elementary buildings in the District is $37.9 million (up from $34.5 million in 2013). Renovating the buildings also does not include moving walls to make the buildings more secure, such as installing security offices near the main entrance of each building. The estimated cost of constructing two brand new larger elementary schools is $38.5 million (including potential purchasing of land and site improvements) which is the amount that is being requested in Issue 5.
In addition, because the District has applied for assistance from the OFCC, it should be noted that the OFCC would not provide financial assistance when the cost to renovate exceeds 74% of the estimated cost to build new - which as you can see from the above, it does for Riverside Local Schools.
Why isn’t a new high school being constructed before the elementary schools?
While all buildings (except LaMuth Middle School) need to be replaced, decommissioning four of our most problematic buildings first is more cost effective immediately for the District. The OFCC has ranked the elementary schools in worse condition than the high school.
Is there room for growth in the new schools in case enrollment increases?
Yes. The new elementary schools will be built to house 625 to 650 students which would allow room for growth.
If Issue 5 passes, when would the new schools open for students?
If Issue 5 passes, it is expected that the planning and construction process would take approximately two years. If there are no setbacks or complications, the two new elementary schools are expected to be open to students by August of 2019.
What happens if Issue 5 fails?
If Issue 5 fails, Leroy Elementary School will close at the end of the 2016-2017 school year and students will be redistricted. The Facilities Plan will be further delayed and the repair costs for the other five elementary schools will continue to increase. There is no upside and a long-standing problem will get worse.
If Issue 5 passes, what students will attend the new facilities?
If Issue 5 passes, the District will proceed with a plan to redistrict elementary school boundaries based on the new facilities opening. Students will attend the school that is within their geographic location and boundary.
How will new facilities affect class sizes?
New buildings would be staffed to accommodate the number of students in each grade. It is easier to maintain average classroom sizes in larger buildings as more grade level classes are housed in the same building. An optimal classroom of 25 students or less per classroom is desirable whenever possible.
Didn’t the District just pass a continuous Permanent Improvement Levy last November?
Yes. The PI Levy brings in about $2.3 million annually. However, with buildings that were built in the 1920s and 1930s, the District is spending more and more each year to repair them. The District often exceeds the PI amount and must utilize General Fund dollars to fix issues with the buildings - taking away from already targeted classroom instruction.
Should Issue 5 pass, the District would be able to use the current PI money toward purposes it was intended for which are supplanted when infrastructure issues take precedence - allowing the district to spend more on instructional equipment, school bus replacements, improving technology and new curriculum materials.
How will new facilities improve programming and educational opportunities?
First, access to technology will be enhanced and state of the art technology will be available in every classroom throughout the new buildings as well as in every common area.
Second, more teachers for each grade level will provide more opportunity for professional collaboration among and between grade-level staff. This is statistically proven to be beneficial to students because when teachers have their peers as immediate resources in close proximity, best practices can be shared on an on-going bases for the benefit of all.
Third, with open learning spaces, natural lighting and modern and comfortable furnishings, the classrooms and shared spaces will be pleasing for students. A pleasing environment creates a positive atmosphere for children and keeps them engaged in learning.
Fourth, new facilities will allow for dedicated areas for science, creative arts, inviting library spaces and separate areas for eating and physical activity.
Lastly, safety will be enhanced by allowing the building administrative office to be the point of entry for all building visitors.
What about bussing and/or bringing back programs?
Because this is a construction bond levy, funds can only be used for the construction purposes intended and stipulated in the bond levy language. In order to consider bringing back bussing or programs, an operational levy would have to be proposed by the Board of Education and passed by the District voters.
I don’t have kids in the District, why should I care about new facilities?
Whether you have students in the District or not, the entire community benefits from a strong public school system. High quality schools build a stronger sense of community, improve home values, attract new families and most importantly, develop and educate the youth of our community to prepare them for a successful future. We believe that in order to move our community forward and give our children the education they deserve, our facilities should be educationally competitive, technologically up-to-date, provide for collaborative learning methods, have competitive science and math (STEM) learning centers, and be safe and functionally sound. This is our ultimate goal as a District to benefit the entire community.
If you have additional questions about Issue 5, please call 440.358.8202 for more information.