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Dr. Jeff Greenley presents consolidation plan tied to May 6 Belpre school levy
Summary
Dr. Jeff Greenley told Belpre City Council the district needs a new revenue source on the May 6 ballot to address aging buildings and presented a concept to consolidate campuses into a single site built for about 1,150–1,200 students; he said the district currently enrolls about 930.
Dr. Jeff Greenley told Belpre City Council on April 14 that the district’s aging school buildings require new revenue and that a levy on the May 6 ballot would fund planned repairs and a multi‑phase consolidation. He showed a conceptual rendering of a new high‑school campus that, in Phase II, would bring the elementary campus onto the same site.
Why it matters: Greenley said the proposal aims to accommodate projected growth and reduce maintenance costs by moving two campuses onto one larger site. He said the district currently enrolls about 930 students and that the proposed new facility would be sized for roughly 1,150 to 1,200 students. “Without a new revenue source, we can’t continue to keep up on the maintenance of the buildings,” he told council.
Details presented and fiscal context: Greenley said the State funds districts based on current enrollment and noted the board has saved to cover projected student increases; he also discussed pending changes at the federal and state levels that could shift some funding streams and complicate budgeting. He said property now occupied by the elementary school could be sold for residential development if campuses consolidate, and that any sale of Rockland property would likely be considered only if doing so supported overall cost savings.
Questions from council and public: Councilor Ms. Riffle asked how restructuring at the U.S. Department of Education might affect district funding; Greenley said some federal programs may flow through other agencies such as Health and Human Services, and that the district expects budgetary challenges. A resident asked about property tax evaluations; Greenley said state policymakers are considering changes but no decisions have been made.
What’s next: Greenley urged support for the May 6 ballot measure and said the board will continue outreach and planning. The presentation was part of the regular council meeting; no formal council action on the levy was recorded.
