Things didn’t go as planned for the New Philadelphia City School District as voters turned down Issue 19.
The district placed a 6.2-mill, 37-year bond and 1.0-mill levy on the ballot seeking voters support once again to building two new buildings and demolish the other buildings that average 80 years old.
However, despite a more details plan 3,651 voters were against the issue, compared to the 2,260 voting in favor.
Superintendent Amy Wentworth says it’s back to the drawing board.
“The school board would have to look at the plan and see if there are any changes that they want to make the plan. We have the offer of state funding through the end of 2026. I’m pretty confident that the decision of the board will be to continue to ask the community to support the plan.”
Wentworth says the plan to construct a new Pre-K through 6th grade building and a 7th – 12th grade middle/high school will go back to the board of education.
“I’m sure they’ll look at the plan and all aspects of it and see if any of it needs modified before we put it on the ballot again, but my guess is that we’re going to continue to ask as long as state funding is on the table.”
That state co-funding, through the Ohio Facilities Commission, would cover about 55% of the total $145.5 million price tag.
Wentworth stresses that without this issue passing, the New Philadelphia School will still have to do something about their buildings, which includes costly repair or remodels.
These are unofficial election results.
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