Recordpub.com - Crestwood eyes new high school Committee examining need; voters may see bond issue in May

By Miles Jung-Kilbreath

Record-Courier staff writer

A committee that may determine whether voters will be seeing a bond issue for a new Crestwood High School was appointed by the Board of Education this week.

"I believe the members of the committee are very good people and well represent all five communities we incorporate," Superintendent Joe Iacano said.

The more than 10-member Community Facilities Committee was unanimously created by the board and will have until Jan. 8 to recommend whether the district should move forward with a bond issues for the May primary ballot. The district has until August 2009 to commit funding for a new high school or risk loosing between $12.5 to $13 million in matching fund grants offered by the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

The committee is co-chaired by Mantua resident Dawn Pechman and Hiram resident Matt Sorrick.

"(The committee) took a tour of the high school Tuesday, and it is in need of some work," Pechman said.

Iacano said the bond issue could use the 50 percent match funds to either build a new high school or renovate the existing high school.

The committee will provide recommendations to the board on school facility options for the district along with determining the level community support, according to Iacano. He said the committee would gauge how the community would support different facility options and funding alternatives to turn the recommendations into a reality.

"It's important for people to know that we are a volunteer committee and can make no final decision on the process. We are here just to provide our ideas within the time frame," Sorrick said.

Pechman said the committee already has met twice, including once last month before they were official. She feels the members have a lot of energy and excitement for the project.

"We want people to know that (a new school) does cost money, but this is what we need to enhance our learning facility so it can be not just for students, but for everyone," Pechman said.

Iacano said the committee will have technical support funds from Harris/Day Architecture, which the district contracted to a new high school when it was approved by voters, to help in research and public support programs. Pechman said the committee is looking into possibly reaching out to the community through a Web site, a phone survey or with a section in the district newsletter, Crestwood Comments.

"We are still trying to find creative ways we can present our information to the community," Pechman said.

With its deadline less than three months away, Sorrick said he believes the committee can provide strong recommendations to the board.

"We are going to work hard, but this is the deadline we have to work under and we have to accomplish it by then," Sorrick said.

Pechman said the committee is not ready to open its meetings to the public, which is what she'd like to eventually do, but it would give monthly updates to the Board of Education at its meetings.