Claymont school officials are considering closing two buildings and adding onto the high school so it can host grades five through 12.
Superintendent Brian Rentsch says the district is bringing in an architect to develop a conceptual design so they can start requesting project bids from contractors.
“This is just the beginning stages of it naturally, but the target goal is to have this completed by the beginning of the 27-28 school year.”
In this plan, the district would close the intermediate building in Dennison and the middle school in Uhrichsville. Rentsch says the addition to the high school would include around 20 classrooms, a gym and other auxiliary spaces. He says the district would not ask voters for a bond issue or property tax increase. Instead, the board would use permanent improvement funds to secure a loan.
Rentsch says reducing the number of buildings would help the district remain fiscally solvent.
“Adding onto our high school building and looking at making it a 5-12 building and then by doing that we’d restructure. We would come down to be three buildings instead of five, and just by going down from that, that would help our budget within the improvement facility phases of each of the buildings that we look to close.”
Rentsch says Claymont school officials are looking for cost-saving measures because Ohio’s new budget flatlines the district’s state funding. They say they are reviewing class sizes and not filling positions following retirements or departures.
The mayors of Dennison and Uhrichsville are questioning the proposal. The village of Dennison is asking community members to share their concerns with Claymont School Board members.
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