Xenia trying again for Warner levy
By Scott Halasz - shalasz@aimmediamidwest.com
XENIA After a close vote in November, Xenia Community Schools are again trying to pass a bond issue for a new middle school.
School board members unanimously voted Jan. 14 to place a 2.3-mill levy on the May ballot that if passed will generate $36 million to fund the building of a new middle school adjacent to the current Warner Middle School property. A similar property tax was turned down by 358 votes in the 2020 general election (8,724-8,366). The district will also ask for the renewal of a 1.3-mill permanent improvement levy
Xenia schools ending contract with ESC
XENIA Xenia Community Schools will not be renewing a contract with the county educational service center.
The board of education Monday voted to terminate the agreement when it runs out at the end of the current school year, preventing an automatic renewal for the 2021-22 school year. Instead, the district will use a new provider, which was selected after a board-required request for proposal for special education services was issued by the district this past fall.
Multiple proposals were received, but the ESC did not submit one, according to Kristy Creel, the district’s communications coordinator. The RFP process was part of a plan to “expand those services and meet the needs of our students,” Creel said in an email.
Warner levy failing
By Scott Halasz - shalasz@aimmediamidwest.com
XENIA A 2.6-mill property tax levy to raise money for a new Warner Middle School is currently failing.
According to most-updated numbers, 7,533 voters said no, while 6,828 voted in favor of Issue 24. Greene County still has 4,354 outstanding absentee ballots and there are still some precincts yet to be counted.
If it passes, the owner of a $100,000 home will pay around $7.58 a month, generating $36 million for construction, according to the voteforxenia.com website.
XCS tried several times in the past to pass a bond issue that would enable the district to build a new high school/middle school complex near Ledbetter Road and U.S. 42. After the last failure, Superintendent Dr. Gabe Lofton convened a visioning committee to explore facility options.