Berea City Schools announced Wednesday that it has taken the first step to place a $112.5 million bond issue on the ballot in November that will address concerns that its older schools are creating problems for the education of its students.
If passed by voters, the bond issue would create $1.3 million in savings in day to day operations each year, Superintendent Michael Sheppard stated.
The school board approved a resolution on April 18 that outlines the scope of the issue.
According to the school system, the bond issue would:
- Upgrade current classroom and learning technology to ensure students are ready for college and the workforce;
- Improve property values in the community;
- Enhance the community’s image and reputation;
- Prolong the use of existing schools that are being renovated;
- Maintain the excellent quality of education that Berea City Schools’ students currently receive.
Renovations for making Ford Intermediate School's auditorium a performing arts center are also being explored by the school district.
The total $112.5 million package includes:
- Constructing a new high school on the current property location;
- Renovating the current junior high and Middlebrook Education Center (MEC) building to create a middle level complex with separate spaces for students in fifth grade from students in grades six through eight;
- Construct a new elementary school in Brook Park;
- Renovations to Big Creek Elementary School;
- Simple updates to Grindstone Elementary School; and,
- Closing Brookview and Brook Park Memorial elementary schools and Ford Intermediate School.
