Tell School Officials How You Feel About Middle School Plan
District asks voters to take an online survey
The school district is looking to gauge voters' feelings about building a new middle school through an online survey.
Starting today, residents are asked to take a survey on the Strongsville Schools' website regarding the proposed $72 million bond issue to build a new middle school and make improvements to other buildings.
There is a link to the survey under the "Welcome" heading on the district's home page, according to Mark Donnelly, director of business services.
The school board agreed last month to aggressively pursue the idea of building a new middle school, saying the district moves quickly, it can realize enough savings to avert the need for a new operating levy in a few years.
The plan hinges on consolidating Center and Albion into one building and closing one elementary school, possibly by moving sixth-graders into the new middle school.
A consultant warned the that although the plan build a new middle school was basically solid, there could be game-changing obstacles ahead -- like potential wetlands and size problems with the proposed site.
The 17 acres next to the high school, behind Jardine Funeral Home, includes 4.91 acres of wetlands and may not be large enough to fit the school, parking lots and athletic fields, the consultant said.
Still, board members said now is the time to pursue the bond issue. Because other issues are being paid off, most property owners would see their taxes increase only $12 to $16 a year.
The six-question survey will run through 3 p.m. Thursday, May 13, Donnelly said.
In This article
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Center Middle School
13200 Pearl Rd, Strongsville, OH -
Albion Middle School
11109 Webster Rd, Strongsville, OH -
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Strongsville High School
20025 Lunn Rd, Strongsville, OH -
Jardine Funeral Home
15822 Pearl Rd, Strongsville, OH
tom m
9:22 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
worthless survey slanted and biased here is one of the questions
Interest rates are at historic lows making a construction project more attractive, should the District consider:
A new High School and a new Middle School?
The Middle School project as proposed? <<< (as proposed)
All new schools?
No new schools?
so if you are in favor of a new middle school but not at the high school location where would you check
lyn
5:14 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
OK, tom m - once again we agree.
We just got done looking at that worthless survey and said the same thing! I guess you say no a new school and then comment. Afterall, it sounds like the 17 acres they purchased for the purpose of the middle school was a waste! Unless they cut corners and move this here and that there. Lets not cookie cutter things. Build it the way it should be, and give up the hope of putting a square peg in a round hole.
lyn
7:06 am on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Also on The Patch: "Donnelly said a middle school typically requires 30 acres, including the building, parking and athletic fields." And, as stated above, "the 17 acres next to the high school, behind Jardine Funeral Home, includes 4.91 acres of wetlands".
So, typically 30 acres is needed, but we have a net 12 acres. The board's suggestion is to move the athletic fields somewhere else and have a 2-story building? What happens in the future when we need to expand or make adjustments to the school building because it WILL be found at some point in time to not serve the needs. If we are already stuffing as much into that 12 acres as we can, there is no place to go. Oh, I guess we could go up, a 3-story building.
Caroline Kennat
10:04 am on Saturday, May 5, 2012
When would it be a better time to replace an old building? Our children deserve the best we can give them. Frankly, both middle schools are in desperate need of replacement. Those buildings are not doing much to attract new families to our beautiful city.
Pete
3:22 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Center should be fixed and preserved not torn down.
Pete
3:25 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
We don't need new athletic fields built i it's by SHS. That would be stupid. They can share with them. Using Catan Stadium for football games wouldn't be hard since they already did before. They can use the soccer fields for soccer and the baseball diamonds for baseball and the tennis courts for tennis rather than making new ones altogether.
lyn
8:55 am on Sunday, May 6, 2012
Who put this terrible survey together?
The only thing that will be accomplished by viewing the results, is that they have asked questions in a way that they can justify what they already want to do.
It doesn't matter if the responder has children, and ages. Will they disregard answers if not to their liking?
They have not addressed the issue of what would become of the other 2 middle schools if a new one is built by the high school.
How can people answer a survey without at least some information?
Sure, on any survey, you can ask "would you like..." But, give us consequences, alternatives, more information!
WHY WERE NO ALTERNATIVES TO RELOCATING ASKED? This is the main problem I have and just perpetuates my suspicions of the board's survey and ulterior motives.
tom m
12:58 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012
wait till you see the next survey about the teachers contracts......
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT TEACHERS CONTRACT
A) the teachers getting a 10% increase in salary and retirement with no increase in health costs
B) no increase in health costs for the teachers and a 10% increase in salary and retirement
C) a 10% increase in retirement and salary with no increase in health costs for the teachers
D) the health costs staying the same along with a 10% increase in retirement and salary for the teachers
joe simonton
8:28 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012
you should be on the school board
Ken McEntee
3:43 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Tom.
Your teacher contact survey is my favorite Patch post of all time. I can't stop laughing.