Shaker Heights Schools Move Forward with Future Bond Levy

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH - The Board of Education has taken a step towards placing a future bond levy for the Shaker Heights School District onto the May 2017 ballot. In a statement, the Board says that the district "urgently needs capital funds."

The Board said the funds are needed to repair eight school building. Namely, the district needs to update the IT infrastructure and replace aging heating equipment. There are other needs laid out for the individual buildings.

There is also a pending cost-benefit analysis for replacing the Middle School with a new, energy-efficient building versus maintaining the current building.

The district has also gotten word that the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission has set aside $6.3 million for Shaker Heights Schools to use in the construction of a new Middle School. The estimated local cost of that project would be $19.9 million. However, that money requires voters to approve a ballot measure by Sept. 2017. Deferring the decision on the levy could change the amount of funding available.

Depending on the Board's decision on what to do with the Middle School, voters could be deciding on a 3.76 mill levy or a 4.72 mill levy.

The Board will make a formal decision on the Middle School at its Jan. 10 or Jan. 17 meeting.

You can see the district's full PowerPoint on their considerations here.

Photo from Shaker Schools