BATH TWP., ALLEN CO., OH (WLIO) — The Bath Local School District Board of Education has taken the first steps toward placing a bond issue for a new high school on the May ballot.
The board approved four resolutions to advance a proposed 5.95-mill bond issue that would go before voters this spring. The project is expected to cost approximately $56 million, with local taxpayers covering about 70% of the cost and the state contributing the remaining 30%.
If approved, the bond issue would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $17 per month, or roughly $200 per year. District officials say the proposal follows more than a year and a half of planning, public meetings, and work by a Community Action Team focused on designing a new high school and considering how to repurpose space in the district’s existing middle and high school buildings.
“We've improved some of the spaces. We've improved some through the Career Tech or even some of the gym space. We've done some work, again, even at the middle school, with career tech dollars. We're going to try to repurpose some of those spaces. And I think that has been a positive coming out of this year and a half process with the CAT team. Some of the things that we've talked about over time have, they've evolved in a positive way,” says Joel Parker, Treasurer, Bath School District.
Community discussions also played a role in determining where the new grades 9 through 12 building would be located.
“I think the CAT team did a great job of having that discussion. And it really was kind of an organic process of where's the building going. It was great debate in that last year and a half, and it would be north of Bible Road. Part of it would kind of touch where the the old elementary was. Basically, I think, reshaping that site, that side of the road. We talked about parking, ball fields. And again, the main project would be a 9 through 12 High School,” adds Parker.
The board is expected to approve the official ballot language for the bond issue at its January meeting.
