The Blanchester Board of Education adopted a resolution Monday night accepting a certificate from the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center governing board in support of the Blanchester Local School District's 1-mill permanent improvement levy which will be on the May ballot. The meeting was held at the Blanchester Middle School.
The resolution reads in part, "... the Blanchester Local School District Board of Education has determined a need for additional permanent improvement funds, and
"... the residents of the Blanchester Local School District will be asked on May 8, 2007 to vote for the replacement of a permanent improvement levy.
"... be it resolved that the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center governing board expresses its strong support for the permanent improvement levy and encourages the citizens of the Blanchester Local Schools to vote for passage of such."
This is not a new levy, but is a replacement levy for the present levy which will expire in November. If approved by voters in May, money will not be collected until the current levy expires, according to Supt. Brian Ruckel.
Permanent improvement levies have been approved by Blanchester voters four times in the past 20 years - in November 1987, June 1992, May 1997 and November 2002. Each levy was for a period of five years.
A permanent improvement levy is designed to provide funding to maintain school facilities and address capital improvement projects such as parking lots, major repairs to facilities and for major equipment purchases, according to a release from the school district.
If the voters approve the replacement levy, the district plans to replace a 77 passenger school bus, develop a high school multiple handicap unit, repaint classrooms and hallways on a five year rotation basis, maintain all playgrounds and surfaces at the buildings, upgrade and maintain heating and air conditioning systems, maintain all athletic areas and assist in general repairs of all buildings, the release stated.
Election 2010
