Voters to see bond issue on Nov. 5 ballot asking for support of new L-P District buildings
The Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village School District Board of Education approved a resolution to place a facilities bond issue on the Nov. 5 ballot.
The $53.5 million issue, if passed, will support the construction of a Pre-K-12 building.
The decision follows a thorough and inclusive process that engaged the community through surveys and focus groups, identifying the need to address the aging school buildings, according to a news release from the district.
Upon completion, the project will deliver a 123,289-square-foot facility at an estimated total cost of just over $71. 2 million. The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) will contribute about $15.7 million, with the district contributing just over $2 million. The community portion will amount to $53.5 million.
Superintendent Jennifer Allerding expressed optimism about the project, stating.
“The Board of Education's decision marks the next phase in our master facilities planning," she said. "Community input has been invaluable in forming an efficient and practical plan to address our aging facilities in a way that not only supports our students but our community as well.”
Guided by feedback from community members, students and staff, the board voted in spring 2023 to conduct a facilities assessment in partnership with Garmann Miller, a K-12 planning and design firm. The assessment evaluated the condition and accessibility of current buildings to support the development of a master facilities plan.
Tasked force did leg work to develop community-driven plan
A Facilities Task Force, established in the fall, worked to develop a community-driven plan. The diverse group, which included parents, community members, students, business owners, community partners, board members and school staff, collaborated to create a plan that honors the community’s history while preparing for the future.
Two building options were presented to the community. Identified as the red option and the gray option, the two choices incorporate a similar concept, featuring a common shared space. Each building option had the facility located on the site of Loudonville High School.
The main difference, Allerding said at a community meeting in May, was use of swing space, allowing students to continue to be educated during demolition and construction. The cost difference between the two options was about $1 million.
For more information about the facilities planning efforts, visit the school's website, lpschools.k12.oh.us.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Loudonville-Perrysville board putting bond issue on November ballot
