North Ridgeville City Schools Critical Issues on November 5th Ballot

The North Ridgeville City Schools are at a crossroads.

North Ridgeville is the fastest-growing city in Lorain County and the third-fastest growing city in the state. The district’s student population has grown by 700 in the past decade, and the influx of new families is pushing North Ridgeville High School and Liberty Elementary School over capacity.

Students are being forced to learn in converted closets, hallways, and trailers. At Liberty, students and staff make do with what they call the “cafegymatorium” because there is no dedicated lunch or gym space. And students are walking the cramped high school hallways while looking at exposed pipes and deteriorating walls.

In fact, the state agrees. State inspectors looked at both schools. They determined they’re beyond repair and that it would cost as much to renovate, as it would to tear them down and start all over again.

To make matters worse, the district is operating at 2013 funding levels. That’s because state law prohibits schools from receiving more funds when a community builds new homes. So, not only are the schools overcrowded, and falling apart, there’s not enough revenue to keep up.

So district leaders came up with a cost-effective solution—Issues 16 and 17. Both will appear on the November 5th ballot.

Issue 16 will pay for a new high school, elementary school, and a performing arts center. It will cost the owner of a $100,000 home, $22 per month, but the state of Ohio is going to pay $23 million of the cost of the $132 million projects IF the levy passes. The decision is based on the assessment state inspectors made when they visited both schools earlier this year.

The plan is to build a new 9-12 high school and a new K-3 elementary school building. The North Ridgeville Academic Center, which opened three years ago, will become a 4-8 grade building and the Early Childhood Learning Center would be used for Pre-K.

Issue 16 will not only alleviate the immediate overcrowding issue, but it will provide modern safety and security systems, up-to-date technology, and ensure both schools are ADA compliant. In addition, the Performing Arts Center will be open to the community and provide space for the citizens of North Ridgeville to use.

Issue 17 is not a tax increase. It is a substitute levy that will combine four existing levies into one. It’s critical because it accounts for 40 percent of the district’s operating budget. It helps to pay teacher salaries, fund programs, and services. By combining the existing levies, it will account for the full tax base, including all of the new homeowners in North Ridgeville.

These issues are vital for students because replacing the overcrowded, out-of-date classrooms will provide them with a chance to learn in safe, secure buildings that offer the latest technology.

There’s also value in it for taxpayers. Building new schools will improve property values and the Performing Arts Center will create additional community space for various events. Plus, there’s the added benefit of the state’s funding to help with construction costs.

This is an exciting time to be living in North Ridgeville. The chance to build new schools comes as Center Ridge Road is being transformed into the centerpiece of the city. There’s the talk of shops and restaurants going up, soon after the road-widening project is complete. A lot is happening.

Click here to watch a video of Superintendent Roxann Ramsey Caserio and Assistant Superintendent Keith Ahern gave at the North Ridgeville Chamber of Commerce breakfast to learn more about issues 16 & 17 on the North Ridgeville Citizens for Better Schools Committee Facebook.

Click here to view the ballot issues FAQ on the North Ridgeville Schools website: NRCS.net.