Middle School Plan Set for Discussion Tuesday

The Strongsville School Board will have a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to talk about a proposal to to replace and .

Councilmen Jim Carbone and Matt Schonhut and School Board member Carl Naso are suggesting a bond issue of about $72 million that would pay to build the school -- probably on district-owned land next to Strongsville High School -- and also make improvements to the other buildings, including upgrading technology.

Because old bond issues are expiring, most homeowners would see only a small increase in their property taxes -- about $8 a year for each $100,000 in home valuation.

Carbone said the plan is a way to tackle several issues: Replace the deteriorating Center Middle School, make needed improvements to other school buildings and ultimately save money by consolidating the two middle schools into one.

Naso said he believes the savings could offset the need for the district to return to the ballot in a couple years with another operating levy.

The issue is sure to be controversial. A Strongsville Patch poll last week showed and 21 percent need more information to be convinced.

Some said they don't like the idea of building next to the high school; others said they aren't in favor of including sixth-graders in the new middle school, which could be part of the plan.

Putting the sixth grade in middle school could help the district consolidate elementary schools, saving more money.

The meeting will take place at the .