$47M needed for repairs

VERMILION — Less than three months before an election, officials representing Vermilion Schools recently made their case as to why they need millions of dollars from taxpayers. Come May, the district plans to place a bond issue on May's ballot and needs voter support. The main reason why? Basically, the district's aging buildings are rapidly deteriorating, prompting leaders to pursue modernization and repairs — estimated at a cost of $47 million. To cover this cost, on May 6, voters will be asked to approve a 3.91-mill, 30-year bond levy. This is equal to a $100,000 homeowner paying an additional $137 annually in taxes. An overview At the meeting, district treasurer Justin Klingshirn shared a presentation that included an overview of the district, its finances and the reasons officials are turning to voters for additional funding. Klingshirn first focused on the district buildings, all located on a campus off State Road (Ohio 60) and their deteriorating condition. "First and foremost, why are we asking for a bond," Klingshirn said. "Vermilion School buildings: They are aging, and they are in urgent need of repair and modernization." He listed leaking roofs; ineffective heating and cooling; and outdated classrooms as a few improvements the district needs. Klingshirn also listed the ages of four district buildings — Vermilion High School, Sailorway Middle School, Vermilion Elementary School and the board of education building, all located on a single campus — which range from 10 to 77 years old. In the past, Vermilion Schools has turned to its general fund, or everyday operating budget, for repairs and upgrades. Out of the 611 school districts in the state, Vermilion Schools is one out of 43 districts to utilize its general fund in this way. But current projects the district is looking to complete are too expensive. Additionally, to support the district's case, Klingshirn highlighted the last time the district was approved for voter support. Its last operating levy was an emergency levy approved in 2008, and the district has four current expense levies passed in 1976, 1989, 1992 and 1993. The expense levies collect the same amount of money as they did in the years they were approved, meaning they're less valuable in present-day value when factoring in inflation. "We've had a couple of things happen since the passing of these levies. First and foremost we had COVID," Klingshirn said. The federal government helped districts with the impact of COVID through ESSER, short for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. Vermilion got $3.7 million in these funds to: • Help pay for student computers and iPads • Install a new roof and heating, ventilation and air conditioning system to its middle school • Place a new hot water tank at its high school • Hire four reading specialists Where are upgrades needed? Klingshirn shared photos of a few district features that need improvements: • The tennis courts have large cracks due to recent weather conditions. • The pipes in the district have been repaired numerous times due to water main breaks. • The high school's roof needs to be repaired. • The bus garage's age should result in demolition, officials said. "Those four pictures alone are somewhere between $8.7 million and $10.8 million to replace," Klingshirn said. Additional repairs and updates need to be made to the high school science rooms along with restrooms in the high school and middle school. The middle school elevator, interior lighting and emergency exits, the high school media center, auditorium lighting and sound and furnishings and pavement throughout the district. At the end of his presentation, Klingshirn asked if there were any questions. There was not.