AVON LAKE, Ohio — We are less than two weeks away from Election Day.
More than 50 school districts across Northeast Ohio have initiatives on the ballot, with four districts asking for more than $100 million to build new schools and renovate old buildings.
In Avon Lake, voters are being asked to decide on Issue 11. If the bond issue is passed, the Avon Lake City Schools will receive $170 million to build three new buildings and renovate the high school.
"We need facilities to support the type of learning that we need to engage our kids in for their future," said Joelle Magyar, the new superintendent for Avon Lake City Schools,
Currently, the district operates four elementary schools, an intermediate school, plus a middle and high school. Under the new plan, Avon Lake City Schools would consolidate from seven buildings to four -- building two new and bigger elementary schools and a new middle school -- while also renovating the current high school.
"Operationally, the district will save anywhere from $1.5 to $1.9 million dollars a year in operation cost," Magyar explained.
The district says if Issue 11 is approved, property owners will initially pay $266 for every $100,000 their property is worth. That cost will drop to $196 when a previous bond issue expires in 2026.
"Some people are on limited incomes, so I'm against Issue 11," stated Avon Lake resident Ron Ochsenwald, who believes the school district is asking for too much at one time.
Fellow residents David and Janet Wade disagree. "We feel that the schools are very important to the housing values and what not and we think they need some new schools," David Wade told 3News.
You might ask: why not just renovate the schools instead of building new ones? Avon Lake district leaders say the cost to renovate all their K-8 buildings is 65-70% of the cost to just build new ones. They believe that renovation is just a temporary fix to an ongoing problem of the need for new school buildings.
3News reached out to the organization supporting Issue 11, Avon Lake Citizens for Schools, and received the following statement:
"For over 100 years, our community has supported the Avon Lake City School District. On November 7th, a vote FOR Issue #11 will leave a legacy for future generations. The construction of three new buildings and renovations to Avon Lake High School will provide safe and updated facilities that our children and educators deserve. By building new, the school district will experience significant operational cost savings each year. By voting FOR Issue #11, all citizens of Avon Lake will benefit with increased meeting and green spaces! In addition, our strong schools make Avon Lake a desirable place for people to live and raise their families. We hope that every voter in our community will continue to support the future success of Avon Lake City Schools by voting FOR Issue #11."
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