Avon Schools share plans for proposed bond issue money

AVON — Residents had questions Wednesday for Avon Schools Superintendent Ben Hodge as he presented the school district's plans if a school construction bond issue on the ballot passes Nov. 5. The "Community Info Night" on the issue was sponsored by Support Avon Schools. About 50 people crammed into the Avon Lions Community Center on Eaton Drive to see the presentation. Issue 14 is a 3.98-mill, 37-year bond issue to raise $90 million for academic and athletics facilities construction and renovation. It would raise about $4.5 million per year and is projected to cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $139 per year, according to the Lorain County auditor's office. The Avon Board of Education voted unanimously in July to put the issue on the November ballot. Hodge said if the issue passes, about $50.5 million of what it generates would be used to build a new elementary school for students in grades 3 to 5, Hodge said Wednesday. Another $19.5 million would build a new athletic facility where the Avon Early Learning Center currently is, $10.5 million for a new campus site work driveway, $5.3 million for new locker rooms and weight rooms at Avon High School, $3 million for a new bus garage, and $1.7 million for renovations at Heritage Elementary School, according to a slide Hodge showed in his presentation. The plan is to consolidate six buildings to four, leaving Heritage Elementary, the new elementary school, Avon Middle School and Avon High School. Avon Heritage South will become a pre-K and kindergarten building, while Avon Heritage North would be for grades 1 and 2. Hodge ticked off a list of other improvements. The current bus garage, built for 20 buses, would be expanded to handle the 41 the district now has. Expanded locker rooms, up to 100 more parking spaces, a new concession stand, a new press box and more restrooms at Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet Stadium are also part of the plan. Exterior construction of the new elementary school would keep the same brick-and-block style of the high school and middle school, Hodge said. It could take three years to complete the project: 18 months to plan, and 18 months to build if the levy passes, Hodge said. The Avon Early Learning Center at 3075 Stoney Ridge Road that currently houses pre-K and kindergarten would be torn down. It is a 75-year-old building and "has all kinds of issues," Hodge said. East Elementary School, 3100 Nagel Road, would be sold. The district has to first offer it to interested community schools, then put it up for bid if none are interested, Hodge said. Heritage Elementary School, 35575 Detroit Road, would receive renovations for a grades 3, 4 and 5 and Avon High School, 37545 Detroit Road, also would get renovations. The 100-year-old Avon Board of Education offices at 36600 Detroit Road also would be sold, Hodge said. Avon Middle School would remain the same. Hodge said the plans presented Wednesday were not final and said the district wants community feedback so they can be modified through "evolving conversations" with voters. He encouraged anyone with questions or comments to email him at HodgeB@avoneagles.org. Residents took in Hodge's presentation and came back with questions and criticisms. The increase in taxes was one concern. Questions included whether the issue shouldn't have been split, with one bond issue to focus on "needs" and a second on "wants." Other speakers defended athletics and new athletic facilities as necessary: Sports keep students busy, improve their mental health and keep the community involved with the schools, they said. Still others said the plan needs to be about what is best for the students and the community, which benefits from strong schools. "Quality schools mean quality towns," one woman said. The interest rate on the bond won't be known until after it passes and the district goes to sell the bonds, Hodge said in answer to one question. And if the issue doesn't pass, "it will never be cheaper" to build thanks to increased material costs and inflation, one man told the room. Hodge agreed. "Costs will rise" the longer the district waits on the plan, he said. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.