Mansfield School District Superintendent Joe Staton has announced that the board has approved a plan to place a millage increase before the voters this May. Factors leading to the proposed increase–extensive building repairs, including roof replacement, heating and air units, and extensive foundation repairs.
“The middle school needs a lot of preventative maintenance,” stated Staton. “In the years prior and since I have been here, multiple heating and air units have needed repair or replacement, a completely new roof is needed and there are foundation problems. We are looking at several million dollars in repairs.”
The school board has agreed on a plan to demolish the area at the middle school that’s in greatest disrepair. That would include the portion on the lower end (hillside) of the middle school from the west side of the offices, down. It would leave the portion on the upper level, the office and gym. Staton noted that the school will continue to maintain and upkeep all of those buildings and hopes to relocate the administration to the current office of the middle school. Additionally, the district hopes to implement a pre-k program to be housed in the upper level of the current middle school. “These projects would allow for so many opportunities for our community.”
Middle school students, grade 5-8 would be split between the elementary and high school. Grades 5 and 6 would go to the elementary school and grades 7 and 8 would go to the high school. “We would build an additional wing on both campuses to accommodate these students,” continued Staton.
In the end, Staton estimates a cost savings to the district for operating just two campuses at $850,000 per year. He also noted that there will be no immediate cut in staff with this proposed plan allowing attrition to provide the appropriate staff numbers over a short time.
“The school system, to be efficient, is set up for 500 or so students per campus. When the new high school was built, there were 1,079 students. Today, our K-12 numbers are below 720, with no indication of growth. Efficiency wise, we can better serve our students and provide them with more opportunities.” Staton would go on to note that the Department of Education provides forecasts for 10-year future enrollment. The Department has forecasted a student population of 700-710 students in years 1-9 and dropping to 690 in year 10.
Although the district has been placing money into a building fund, it will not be enough to cover all the project costs. Additionally, it would not allow for any reserve funds for other routine maintenance projects. Staton noted that there was $580,000 in the building fund when he first started as Superintendent and the district now has $2.7 million in reserve to contribute toward building projects or necessary repairs.
“Of course this is all contingent on the millage passing,” summed Staton. “The proposal by the board for a 5.98 mill increase would bring the total millage to 45.99 mills.” This would be an approximate increase to the average property owner with a home valued at $100k at an estimated $115 increase in personal property tax per year, for many, less increase.
