Published Tuesday, February 25, 2003
at $7.5 million
Herald Staff Writer
After an hour of deliberation and attempts to stall the project, Jamestown school directors Monday passed their proposed $7.5 million high school renovation and addition by a vote of 6 to 3.
The board has said the school, built in 1944, needs updates, estimated to cost $7.5 million. The school contains some asbestos that must be removed, the library is too small and the gymnasium is not large enough to meet the needs of student athletes or the public, school directors say. Also, fire alarms and emergency lighting systems need to be updated, and the school's rest rooms must be renovated to make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Voting for the project were directors Guy Brooks, board president; Linda McClimans; Jay Snyder; Chris Kneeland; and Doris Livingston.
Board members John Tucker, Debbie Miller and Paul Csonka opposed the project and voted together to cut from the project nonacademic renovations, such as a new gymnasium, locker rooms and bathrooms. They also voted together in attempting to table the motion for six months.
"I am not trying to dismantle this project," Tucker said. "I don't feel I have had enough information to make this decision. This is not a yes or no vote. I am asking for you to give me more time."
Mrs. Miller said she did not think $7.5 million was a reasonable amount in light of current economic conditions. The board began eyeing the project four years ago, she said, when everyone was better off.
"I know that what I could afford four years ago, I cannot afford today," she said. "We cannot afford it today, we cannot afford it tomorrow."
Other board members expressed their support of the measure, calling it a vote for the students.
The board considered three options before deciding on a final plan. The first was to do nothing, which board members said would just be delaying an inevitable project. The second included making the school handicapped accessible and adding three science rooms, a cafeteria, kitchen, computer lab, rest rooms and a large group instruction room.
The third option, which in addition to the academic renovations, called for the construction of a new gymnasium, wrestling room, rest rooms and girls' and boys' team rooms.
The project will cost about 6 mills of Mercer County real estate tax, meaning the board will have to raise taxes about 1.5 percent a year for the next five years.
In Mercer County, 1 mill is $1 for every $1,000 of a home's assessed value. With the increases, a yearly tax bill of $500 would rise to $565.
Taxes are levied in Jamestown and Greene Township under Mercer County's assessment ratio. Taxes in South and West Shenango townships are levied under Crawford County's assessment. Under a state tax equilization formula, the dollar amounts are the same.
The plans will be submitted to the state Education Department. The school board will solicit bids and can make cuts from that, Snyder said.
Some of the approximately 50 residents in attendance favored scaling back the project, citing the poor economy and financial hardship for people on fixed incomes as reasons for a more modest design.
"The economy is in pretty bad shape and is getting worse," said Jamestown resident Jerry Routh. Just last week, he noted, 200 people in the area were laid off from Werner Co. in Sugar Grove Township, and he asked board members to consider that before they cast their votes.
You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Amanda Smith-Teutsch at: ateutsch@sharonherald.com