Bowling Green school board members want to get more community feedback on new facilities, but time is
running out.
At Tuesday’s meeting, district Superintendent Francis Scruci said an estimate to conduct a survey of what
the community wants to do about facilities would cost about $12,500.
“That’s a lot of money to sample a population of 300,” he said.
Board member Jill Carr asked if there were any alternatives, since she felt not enough input had been
gained from the community forums held last year.
Board President Ellen Scholl asked whether a survey could be put on the district website and use the
city’s all-call program to alert residents.
Scruci said he was concerned about farmers, retirees and adults with no children in the district
responding. He added that he would prefer a survey come from outside the district.
“We don’t have a lot of data but what we have is consistent,” said board member William Clifford. The
district has discussed this issue since March and the board needs to make a decision if the plan is to
put a measure on the ballot this year.
It would be best to not have a survey affiliated with the district, “but we need to do something. We have
due diligence to do it,” he said.
In November, Scruci presented cost and millage estimates for four options:
•    Renovate Kenwood and Conneaut elementaries and the high school at an estimated cost of $37 million.
This is equal to a 3.71-mill levy and will cost $130 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home.
•    Build a new high school, replace Conneaut and renovate Kenwood at a cost of $47 million. This is
equal to a 4.71-mill levy and will cost $165 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home.
•    Build a new consolidated elementary and renovate the high school at an estimated cost of $57
million. This is equal to a 5.71-mill levy and will cost $200 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home.

•    Build a new high school and a new consolidated elementary for an estimated $75 million. This is
equal to a 7.51-mill levy and will cost $262 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home.
All figures were based on a 28-year bond issue at 5.25 percent interest.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the board took the second step toward putting a 0.5 percent income tax renewal
on the ballot in May. The motion was approved unanimously. The renewal is for five years; the income tax
has been in place since 1993.
The board also:
•    Accepted $8,500 in donations as part of the district’s Adopt-a-Door program to raise money to
install The Boot in every classroom door. Scruci said nearly 178 doors have been paid for.
•    Accepted donations totalling 40 books for its three elementaries.
•    Heard a presentation from Chuck Martin, director of maintenance, on what custodians do on a daily
basis, from emptying trash cans to vacuuming, dusting and mopping to cleaning windows and making minor
repairs.
There is nearly one mile of hallways in the district, 232 toilets and urinals and 175 sinks. There is an
area of 452,100 square feet cleaned daily, or about 25,115 square feet per custodian.
“Every day, five days a week,” Martin said. They are the “quiet hero of the school.”
•    Heard from Scruci that the boys’ high school locker room floor under the showers is collapsing, and
the showers have been closed since last year as a safety precaution. Estimates from architects puts the
project upward of $200,000. He will present repair plans to the board in February.
Outside the facilities look fine, he said, but inside they need some help.