Voters say yes to new Elida high school, no again to Grove building

ELIDA — Doug Weaver thought previous Elida school levy attempts were just too much money, but after officials trimmed the cost, he was able to get behind it Tuesday.“I think they have finally gotten it down to where it is manageable. They kind of cut the fat out of it this time,” he said after voting Tuesday.The third time was a charm Tuesday as Elida schools was finally able to pass a bond issue for a new high school. Columbus Grove wasn’t so lucky. Voters for the fourth time said no to a new school.Fifty-one percent of voters supported Elida’s 28-year, 6.46 mill bond issue and a 1 mill levy for permanent improvements. The bond will raise $38.25 million for the $39.75 million project. The rest will come from interest made off the bonds. The permanent improvement will raise $355,000.School officials hugged each other, a few with tears in their eyes, when the final result came in.“My feelings right now are of gratitude,” Superintendent Don Diglia said. “I am so excited for our community and for our kids. I really think we will have a centerpiece for the community. It feels so good to be on the positive side of the results.”Columbus Grove saw a 28-year, 6.38 property tax and a 23-year, 0.25 percent income tax fail with 50.5 percent voting against it.“I’m disappointed,” Superintendent Bob Jennell said. “I thought we communicated as well as we could with the public.”A mandatory maintenance levy passed with 50.4 percent supporting it. Jennell said the district can use the permanent-improvement levy on other things, but said it won’t be sufficient to cover the existing conditions of the building.Fifty-three percent rejected a bond issue in August. The district asked voters to support the same project this time, building a new school on land located adjacent to the athletic fields. Jennell said the school board would have to meet and decide on the next step.“We are not going to give up,” he said. “We have a facility to maintain. ... Unfortunately without a new facility we’re going to have to probably reach into our general fund, and that is the money we normally use for educating expenses.”Both districts were able to reduce the cost of the projects this time around. Diglia said he believes listening to the community is what helped the levy pass, and added that officials would continue to keep people involved.The district will spend the next year planning the building, with construction taking 18 months to two years.Resident Tom Martin said he believes a school building positively impacts the kind of education pupils receive, and therefore voted for the Elida levy.“The school is needed,” he said. “I think we have to move forward and we have to get the kids the education they need.”