SOLON — Volunteers are canvassing the community seeking signatures on a petition that would ask the Solon Community School District (SCSD) to hold a bond referendum in March, 2023. If approved by voters, the district would be authorized to sell bonds in an amount not to exceed $25.5 million for various infrastructure improvements over a multi-year period without raising the current tax levy.
A stakeholder’s meeting was held Thursday, Dec. 8 in the Solon Center for the Arts where results of the recent community-wide survey were reviewed. 2,997 postcards were sent out with 1,091 responses received according to representatives of ISG, the district’s architectural and engineering firm.
The majority of the responses (40%) were from the 36-45 age group followed by 45-55 (23%), 56-64 and 65+ (8% for both). Respondents in the 18-25 age range totaled only 5%.
ISG found likely parents of school age children in favor of the bond issue and projects 69% to 35% with renovation and improvements at Lakeview Elementary chosen as their highest priority. They also found 90% of the respondents are homeowners, and overwhelmingly are in favor of the bond issue. ISG broke the results down into three distinct groups – general population, parents, and SCSD staff with 60%, 67%, and 67% in favor, respectively.
Individual projects were listed for consideration with an addition to the Solon Intermediate School ranked “high” by nearly 50% of each group. Replacing the worn out field turf in Spartan Stadium, in contrast to the SIS and Lakeview projects, was ranked “low” by roughly half of the respondents. It was noted the district might be able to do that project utilizing other funding streams independent of the bond issue. Renovation and improvements at the new transportation center on the north edge of town received a somewhat lukewarm reception with “medium” priority garnering 40-44% of the responses.
The fate of the district’s administrative offices, and the current Community Center (which is leased by the city from the district) was all but sealed as 66%, 72%, and 70% of respondents agreed with full demolition of the aging and deficient structure. A multi-use facility, which could be utilized for indoor athletic, marching band, and other group practices was generally ranked “low.”
Respondents were also asked how likely they would be to approve modifying the district’s Revenue Purpose Statement authorizing the expenditure of the bond money for these specific projects and renewing the district’s Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) with a combined “extremely likely” and “likely” result of 72%, 81%, and 77%. Respondents “extremely likely” and “likely” to approve the General Obligation bonds also totaled 73% (general population), 81% (parents), and 75% (staff), making ISG and district administration optimistic for passage. The district’s last bond referendum was held in 2015 and passed comfortably.
The volunteers must obtain valid signatures equal to a minimum of 25% of the number of voters in the last school election, or at least 435. ISG advised the stakeholders a total of 460-470 is desired in case any signatures should be rejected due to not living within the district, not listing a valid address, etc. A January 9 deadline is in-place for gathering the petitions, which would then be presented to the district’s school board of education on January 19. It should be noted signing the petition is not a vote for the bond issue but merely a request that the measure be put to the voters to decide.
If voted on in March, and approved, projects would be done over a multiple-year period with bonds sold as-needed to finance them. Superintendent Davis Eidahl noted it might even be a couple of years before projects start, “But we have to do them,” he said.