STONY RIDGE — If the Eastwood Board of Education does not work with citizens opposed to a central campus,
the group will have no choice than to try to defeat a levy to pay for the project.
At a meeting Monday of the Committee to Save Our Elementaries, the approximately 15 members agreed to
stick to facts when talking to district residents about the advantages of keeping the elementaries in
Luckey and Pemberville open, and doing extensive refurbishing.
Crystal Crosby, who ran the meeting, pointed out that the schools are now closer to fire and EMS
stations; the villages already have the necessary water, sewer and electric; and that it is cheaper to
refurbish an old building than to build new.
“That is a proven fact,” she stated.
She stated that the district has been moving toward a central campus since before 2008, when a bond issue
to build a new elementary failed.
The district closed Lemoyne in 2007, and Webster in 2010, and moved all fifth-graders to the middle
school.
The move of the fifth grades reduced the student population in the two remaining schools on purpose, she
stated.
If the district had left the fifth grades in the two elementaries, the schools would meet the 350 rule
set forth by the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission.
In order for OSFC to pay for building renovations, the facility has to service 350 students. There are
currently 299 enrolled in Pemberville, and 246 in Luckey.
But if the fifth grades are moved back to the elementaries, the 350 rule would apply, Crosby stated.
She said to hinge a levy campaign on a 51-percent positive margin on a flawed survey was ridiculous.
“I would not bank on 51 percent,” she said.
She stated OSFC will in fact pay to renovate existing schools, citing Ohio Revised Code 3318.03: “If the
school district board determines that an existing facility has historical value or for other good cause
determines that an existing facility should be renovated in lieu of acquiring a comparable facility by
new construction, the commission may approve the expenditure of project funds for the renovation of that
facility up to but not exceeding 100 percent of the estimated cost of acquiring a comparable facility by
new construction, as long as the commission determines that the facility when renovated can be
operationally efficient, will be adequate for the future needs of the district, and will comply with the
other provisions of this division.”
But “your board of education has to want it,” Crosby stated.
Superintendent Brent Welker has said the cost of renovating Pemberville is $8 million and Luckey $5.58
million.
The estimated cost of a new school is $18.5 million, with the district paying $12 million.
But Roger Mullholand of Pemberville said the local cost would be closer to $18 million: Add $3 million
for water, sewer and electric; and $3 million lost in interest paid to borrow against the Home Depot tax
abatement monies.
Eastwood will get $10.1 million through 2029 because of the agreement, and can borrow against those funds
at the cost of $3 million in interest payments, according to Mullholand.
When looking at $13.5 million to renovate against $18 million to build new, there is no comparison, he
stated.
The group suggests putting K-2 in Pemberville, and grades 3-5 in Luckey, to cut down on busing, allow
youngsters to walk to school at least three years, and give teachers an opportunity to collaborate.
Every youngster will be bused if the district goes to a centralized elementary, said Nedra Sheets.
Adding learning pods, which is what teachers seem to want, and making facilities ADA compliant is doable,
they argued.
“A new building is not a cure all,” Crosby stated.
James Opelt, a village councilman in Pemberville who raised concerns at the school board’s March meeting,
said it would be possible to tear walls down to make larger classrooms and leave the schools’ exteriors
intact.
“It’s endless what we could do,” he said.
“Let’s see the renovation (plans), lay them side by side” with new school plans, he suggested. “If one is
cheaper, wouldn’t that make sense?”
Crosby also poked fun at the elementary teachers who struggled to get a PowerPoint presentation working
at the April board meeting.
“If you can’t utilize what you’re asking for, why do you want it?” she asked and got chuckles from the
crowd.
But Opelt quickly pointed out that the district has great teachers.
Mullholand stated the group’s first priority is to defeat the levy to force the school board to take a
different route.
“We support Eastwood schools, but we don’t want a central campus,” Sheets stated.
The support for the district was apparent among those present.
“We’re for Eastwood schools to be the best they can be,” said Inga Otterman as she left the meeting.
The group will meet again June 9 at 7 p.m. at the Webster Township Hall in Scotch Ridge.