SWL board plans to borrow for new classrooms - Other Community News - Ohioans for Responsible Rural Development

Pataskala Standard
Published January 28, 2012

By Chad Klimack

PATASKALA -- The Southwest Licking Board of Education on Thursday voted to expand an elementary school, but without a tax increase.

The board unanimously approved a motion to issue tax anticipation notes, meaning it would borrow $3.5 million to add at least three classrooms onto Kirkersville Elementary, the smallest of the district's three elementary schools.

Enrollment growth prompted the move, and that same growth prompted the board to authorize the district's administration to explore buying two refurbished modular classroom units for Kirkersville.

The board made the latter move because the new classrooms would not be ready until the start of the 2013-14 school year, while the modulars would be ready by the start of next school year.

"We are, for sure, going to need two modulars at Kirkersville no matter what," Superintendent Forest Yocum told the board. "If we could get a modular unit out there and open by next week, we would."

The district has not used modular units for years, but Yocum and Treasurer Richard Jones said it has no choice now.

Yocum estimated the district can buy two refurbished modular units for around $150,000. Each would hold two classrooms, and once work crews finishing building the permanent classrooms at Kirkersville, the modulars could be moved to another school, Yocum said.

The board still needs to grant final approval to purchasing the units, using proceeds from the district's 2.8-mill permanent improvement levy. It set aside $159,000 this year for building improvement services in a PI levy line item and buying the modulars qualifies.

Board members also intend to pay for the new classrooms using tax anticipation notes tied to the ongoing PI levy.

The levy generates $1.6 million per year, and using tax anticipation notes tied to its proceeds will allow the district to secure the needed $3.5 million.

Read the full story on The Pataskala Standard website.