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Superintendent outlines $147.6 million bond to replace aging Strongsville elementary schools
Summary
Strongsville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Bridal presented a facilities plan at the March 2 council meeting proposing three new K–5 schools, renovation of Kinsner and converting Muraski into a centralized preschool; the May 5, 2026 bond would be an estimated 3.43 mills.
Dr. Bridal, superintendent of Strongsville City Schools, told the Strongsville City Council on March 2 that most of the district’s elementary buildings date to the 1960s and face aging infrastructure, accessibility problems and capacity limits, and recommended a multi-phase facilities plan funded by a May 5, 2026 bond.
The plan calls for building three new K–5 elementary schools on the Albion, Chapman and Surrar properties (each to hold about 700 students), renovating and expanding the 2005 addition at Muraski to centralize preschool services, and renovating Kinsner Elementary to serve approximately 500 students. Dr. Bridal said the district’s outside facility assessments and a “renovate-versus-replace” analysis guided the recommendation; he cited the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission guideline that renovation costs exceeding 67% of replacement typically favor replacement.
Why it matters: Dr. Bridal said the district currently uses 14 classrooms in mobile units and runs short on appropriate instructional and therapy spaces, and that continuing to pour money into structurally challenged buildings would not solve long-term limitations. He emphasized ADA accessibility upgrades, modernized instructional spaces, and consolidating services to improve traffic flow and neighborhood compatibility.
Key details from the presentation: Dr. Bridal placed an estimated bond on the May 5 ballot of $147,600,000 and said the total project cost is a bit over $158,000,000 before district funding offsets. He said the district allocated funds from its 070 fund to reduce the bond amount. The superintendent gave an estimated millage of 3.43 mills and said that translates to roughly $120 per $100,000 of appraised value (about $360 a year for a $300,000 home), and that repayment would be spread over 35 years. If the bond passes in May, he said design and construction work would likely take about three years, targeting new buildings to open in 2029 with site work finishing in 2030; Kinsner renovations would be staged so students move between sites during construction, and preschool work would be completed in 2031–2032.
Council members asked about the risk that a separate statewide property-tax or ballot measure could change market conditions. Dr. Bridal said the district’s financial advisors modeled higher interest‑rate scenarios, explained options to preserve project scope without shifting all additional costs to residents, and urged moving forward rather than deferring (which he said could increase project cost substantially).
Community outreach and next steps: The district plans neighborhood meetings for residents bordering school properties and a series of building tours (March 18 Chapman; March 19 Moraski; March 23 Kinsner; March 24 Sarrar; March 30 Whitney). School board member Megan Hafner, who identified herself for the record and gave her address, urged residents to review materials at scsmustangs.org/f4f and to volunteer with a grassroots group rebranding as 4 Strongsville (4strongsville.com) to support the bond.
The superintendent and council said more detailed budget documents, facility assessments and enrollment projections are available on the district’s website. The next procedural step is the May 5, 2026 bond vote.
