A new building for elementary students is in the works at Mansfield City Schools.
That building could be finished in about five years, Chris Elswick, president of the Mansfield City School Board, told the News Journal after the board’s Aug. 18 meeting.
“This is going to be a K-4 building, grade school,” Elswick said. “The plan is that after we get done, there will only be three schools left.”
Those three buildings would be Malabar Intermediate School, Mansfield Senior High School and the new elementary school.
The district’s active elementary schools would close after students are moved into classrooms at the new building.
“The official word is they are going dark,” Elswick said. “There won’t be any kids in them.”
‘A tremendous opportunity for Mansfield City Schools’
Members of the Mansfield City Schools Board of Education voted Aug. 18 to accept a funding commitment from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission through the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program, which allows the district to move forward with planning a districtwide facilities project.
Through the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program, the State of Ohio has committed to funding up to 96% of the eligible project cost, with a maximum state contribution of $56,864,926, according to a news release from Tawny Rodriguez, the district’s administrative assistant.
“This facilities project will not require any additional local taxpayer dollars,” Rodriguez noted. “Mansfield City Schools has identified funding to cover the district’s required local share, which is expected to be approximately $2.37 million.”
By voting to accept the state’s commitment, the district has secured the funding necessary to begin the planning phase of the project.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Mansfield City Schools and for the students we serve,” Superintendent Stan Jefferson said. “The State of Ohio has made a significant investment in our district through the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program. We are excited to begin working with the OFCC to plan facilities that will serve our students for generations to come.”
What will happen to the old elementary schools?
Many decisions, including details on the new building and what will happen to the older facilities, must still be determined. The buildings could be kept dormant, sold or torn down.
“This is all going to be quite a discussion,” Elswick said. “Everyone has their own ideas of what they want to do.”
Administrators have pledged transparency to the public as plans progress.
“This is about making the most of a rare opportunity while being responsible stewards of public resources,” Jefferson said. “We look forward to working with our community as we begin planning for the future of Mansfield City Schools.”
Contact Zach Tuggle at 419-564-3508. Follow him on X at @zachtuggle.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield plans to build a new elementary school without raising taxes
Reporting by Zach Tuggle, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
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By Zach Tuggle, Mansfield News Journal | USA TODAY Network
