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Oakwood Board votes to put $40 million facility bond on May ballot after Phase 2 presentation
Summary
After a presentation on Master Facility Plan Phase 2, the Oakwood Board of Education voted unanimously Jan. 13 to place a $40 million bond issue on the May 6 ballot to fund building upgrades and safety improvements across district schools.
The Oakwood Board of Education voted Jan. 13 to proceed with a $40,000,000 bond issue to fund Phase 2 of the district's Master Facility Plan; the board certified the resolution to the county board of elections for the May 6, 2025 ballot.
Frank Eaton, the district business manager, told the board the proposal focuses largely on work at Harmon and Smith elementary schools and targeted infrastructure at Lang and the high school/junior high. Eaton said about 85% of the bond funds are budgeted for Harmon and Smith and listed projects including HVAC upgrades, major roofing and electrical work, asbestos abatement, fire-alarm upgrades to voice systems, selective fire suppression (sprinklers), masonry repairs, stair and stairlift replacements for accessibility, gym bleacher and divider replacement, structural repairs under Smith's storage/boiler area, auditorium and exterior door replacements, and stadium restoration for Matt Cummins Stadium.
Eaton said other items in the Phase 2 list include classroom technology upgrades, kitchen accessibility work in the family and consumer sciences area, track resurfacing and turf replacement, Lang rooftop HVAC replacements (several units 30+ years old), and safety improvements at softball and baseball fields. He told residents the millage tied to the issue would be 4.74 mills and estimated a cost of $165.90 per $100,000 of appraised home value. Eaton said the district's website will host a project page and the full presentation would be posted online.
During public comment, James Ronald Smurbach, an Oakwood resident, praised the schools generally but urged caution before approving the levy. Smurbach said Oakwood's overall tax rate has risen sharply compared with neighboring suburbs, described his own taxes as nearly $11,000 a year, and said he is not prepared to support the levy as written. "I'm persuadable," he said, "but you have a challenge to tell taxpayers that this amount of money is necessary and that you will not come back several years down the road." The board did not amend the proposed dollar amount at the meeting.
Board members then approved a resolution to proceed with the bond issue. The board certified the resolution to the board of elections so the measure can appear on the May 6, 2025 ballot and directed staff to post factual information to the district website.
The district indicated that, if approved by voters, the bond would fund the Phase 2 priorities Eaton outlined; if not approved, the board will need to decide on alternate scopes or funding sources.
Votes at a glance: the motion "to proceed with an issue of bonds in the amount of $40,000,000 and certifying the same to the board of elections" passed on a roll call vote with all members present voting in the affirmative.
