What we know about ambitious plan to overhaul Canton schools
CANTON − There's much to be determined about Canton City School District's ambitious plan to move McKinley High School downtown and reconfigure school buildings.
It's not yet known how it will affect the downtown, for example.
"We have not had an opportunity to think through the many consequences of the potential building of a new McKinley High School on the Downtown Timken Campus," Mayor Thomas Bernabei said in an email. "This project is well into the future."
More:Reaction to the proposed Canton City Schools building shakeup
But here is what we know
The proposal is an extension of the Design for Excellence plan, which began last school year to streamline staff and operations. Those changes were expected to save $7 million in three years through the reduction of personnel, duplication of services, and old building maintenance.
Canton City Schools has nearly 8,000 students and 1,400 full-time employees. Under the newest plan, the 21 district buildings would be reduced to 16.
“That is closer to where we should be, being that we are no longer a district with 13,000 students,” Talbert previously said.
Mark Smilaycoff, president of the Timken Alumni Association and a former teacher, said the district had 22,000 students when he started teaching in 1974.
"It seems as though a lot of people in Canton don't realize how much smaller the enrollment has gotten and, therefore, they don't see the need to close buildings, but we obviously need to close buildings," he said.
Smilaycoff said it seems like a good idea to have all high school students in one location ― as long as the plans don't result in higher property taxes. He also would prefer the Timken name to remain on the downtown campus in some way.
The city's planning, building, engineering, traffic engineering and other relevant departments will vet plans. Bernabei said he expects there to be challenges, as there would be with any project this size, but also benefits.
"Canton City Schools are a great partner to the city of Canton and we are supportive of any and all Canton City School District facility upgrades," he said. "If it is good for our schools and children, it is good for Canton."
Canton City School District facility changes
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What are Superintendent Jeff Talbert's recommendations?
Superintendent Jeff Talbert has made sweeping recommendations to the school board. They include:
Building a new McKinley High School on the downtown Timken Career Campus.
Establishing eight elementary schools that would serve students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
Discontinuing the use of Stone Elementary, Schreiber, the food operations facility at Dueber and the district business service center.
Demolishing the Mason, Souers and Baxter schools. New schools would be built for Mason and Souers.
Moving preschoolers, who currently attend Schreiber, to Worley.
Moving students enrolled in the Fairmount Learning Center to Clarendon Intermediate and discontinuing the use of Fairmount.
Athletic facilities at McKinley campus won't be affected
Talbert has said the proposal would not affect athletic facilities at the current McKinley campus at 2323 17th St. NW.
It houses the C.T. Branin Natatorium and Memorial Field House and is adjacent to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium and the National Football & Youth Sports Complex.
Lisa Reicosky, district spokeswoman, said in an email that students would be bused to the campus for athletic activities if McKinley moves downtown.
Plans depend on a bond issue
The overhaul of Canton City Schools is estimated to cost about $120 million. Talbert said he plans to ask the school board to put a tax issue on the May ballot that would replace the $46.7 million bond issue approved in 1999.
The tax issue, if approved, is expected to generate $60 million. Talbert anticipates that homeowners will pay no more than they currently pay in taxes and that significant revenue will come from the sale of properties.
“We would be able to raise a large sum of money without raising taxes,” he said.
Meetings to occur in coming months
The district will host multiple community meetings about the plans in October and November.
Reicosky said staff meetings will begin this coming week and community meeting dates should be announced soon. The school board would take action later this year.
"They will vote whether or not to go through with the plan at the December regular meeting on the 19th," Reicosky said. "If funding by way of a levy is required, they will vote on that in January."
If approved, the district expects it to take five years to implement the changes.
Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn Twitter: @kbyerREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: What to know about Canton City Schools' planned building overhaul
