PEYTON NEELY The Marietta Times Students go over their quizzes during Jerry Bedilion’s French I class on Monday afternoon at Warren High School.

The cost. An extravagant plan. A distrust of the district leaders.

For those who voted no on a Warren Local Schools bond issue to construct new schools in the district last week, there are a variety of reasons they’re giving. The Election Day failure was the fifth time in six years a bond issue has been voted down, leaving supporters frustrated and fatigued.

“I’m really embarrassed for the community because the district needs this,” said Jerry Bedlion, a French teacher at Warren High School. “People that once went to school here think it is perfectly fine and it isn’t at all.”

Bedlion has taught French classes in the same classroom at the high school for 45 years and said he would like to see a change before he retires.

The bond issue presented this time was different than the one that failed in 2010, 2011 and 2012. This project would cost a total of $62 million resulting in a local share of $23 million and would fund the construction of new school buildings on one campus for the Warren district. In previous years, the bond issue was proposed at 8.69 mills versus the new proposal where the local share of district consolidation is 4.99 mills. That project was to cost $74.6 million with only 58 percent, or $43.4 million, being paid for in state funds.

The Nov. 8 bond issue would have cost $175 a year to the owner of a home valued at $100,000 while the bond issue on the ballot in 2012 would have cost the same homeowner $258.79 a year for the first 10 years and $105 a year for an additional 10 years.

But some voters said no matter what changes are made to the plan, their vote will remain the same–no.

“All my kids, grandkids, and now even great grandkids attend school there,” said Mary Proctor, 78, of Fleming. “I just really can’t afford any more taxes than I already pay.”

Proctor, who has been a cook at the Silver Moon Diner for more than 25 years, explained that she has to pay for everything herself since her husband passed away 24 years ago.

“I know it’s a smaller amount with this deal but quite honestly, I can’t afford it,” she added.

Other no voters said Monday that they don’t trust the school board to spend money as they should and they don’t like that the plan includes athletic facilities along with academic improvements.

Mother of two Jana Gregory, 37, she doesn’t understand why anyone would turn down this improved deal.

“My concern is that we have one more shot and then the state is going to leave and we are going have to pay 100 percent of it,” said the Vincent native. “I’m concerned for the safety of the children. In one of the areas of the schools, there is  some trouble getting kids in wheelchairs out for a fire drill.”

Gregory also held concern that the issue doesn’t pass before it’s too late, the end result will be closing of all the schools because they are unsafe for the students.

“It’s been on the ballot for so long that people don’t look at the new proposal and I think that’s the reasoning behind not voting for it,” she said. “I wish people would become more educated on the subject because this is our last shot and our best offer we are going to receive before we have to pay 100 percent for it.”

In order to get the 73 percent of state funding, the bond issue must pass in May.

School official say the aging buildings are going to have high costs no matter what.

“The roof in the high school leaks when it rains,” said Allen. “We have also had previous water lines bust and we can’t buy new technology, like the computers we need, when there’s a worry about them being damaged with water.”

Other areas of serious concern include the electrical systems at Warren Elementary and Little Hocking Elementary, low pressure water systems at Warren High School making it difficult to even flush the toilets during times of high traffic, ventilation at Warren Elementary and Little Hocking as those buildings are not insulated well and the parking lots at Warren High School are deteriorating at a quick rate.

The older buildings are also not set up to adequately allow for today’s technology.

The board will hold a public meeting prior to their regular meeting on Monday at 5 p.m. addressing all the areas that need improvement and deciding which ones need more attention than others and the lifespan of everything in all the buildings. It will be informal and public participation is encouraged.

Delbert Newton, 70, of Vincent, said he doesn’t think the schools are in such bad shape.

“What’s wrong with what they’ve got,” said Newton. “Just because little Johnny wants some air conditioning doesn’t mean they need an entire levy. That school is just fine just the way it is.”

Newton also mentioned that no matter what changes are made to the plan, he just doesn’t understand the necessity for it.

The bond issue failed by around a 10 percent margin, which translates to 819 votes.

“I really don’t understand why it is necessary to build entirely new schools,” said Ted Halaj, 69, of Vincent. “Why not just fix it up for our children, especially if this hasn’t passed for years.”

Warren Local School District superintendent Kyle Newton said he thinks that this is the best plan they’ve ever had.

“I feel like the board is definitely going to want to go after it again being that we still have an opportunity for the same percent of help from the state,” he said. “Now we just start the process of looking into the fiscal part of it and if it doesn’t pass in May then we will have to look into a long-term plan for the district.”

Parents and teachers said they will remain hopeful for the next election in getting the bond issue passed.

Chris Vanoy, the guidance counselor at Warren Middle School, is a firm believer that new facilities will benefit students academically.

“Honestly, the academic benefits really outweigh any of the negatives for this issue,” she said. “Just having all of our kids together on one campus allows the community to collaborate better for our students and use our resources more efficiently.”

Warren Levy and Bond Issue Committee member Cliff Pettey said it is difficult to persuade a large property owner on an increase in taxes.

“Many alumni are reluctant to want to close schools they attended,” he added. “There is an entire website dedicated to voting no on this issue but I don’t think people grasp onto the reality of how beneficial this is.”

The website includes a letter from a Warren Township taxpayer, logistics of what the levy entails and even a petition to sign against the whole deal.

“I don’t know why someone would go to the extreme of creating an entire website against the betterment for our students,” said Pettey.

Although no changes have been made officially to the bond issue, the Warren Local Board of Education plans on revisiting it at the next meeting to discuss ways to hopefully change the minds of some residents. The next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the administration building located at 222 Sweetapple Road in Vincent.

At a glance

¯The Warren Levy and Bond Issue failed for the fifth time in six years on Nov. 8.

¯The levy failed by 819 votes.

¯The board will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the administration building to determine a change for next election.

Source: Times research.