Board approves $23 million COPS loan; OKs MacBooks, CleverTouch boards and 575 Chromebooks

At its March 10 meeting the Buckeye Local Schools Board voted to approve a COPS financing resolution intended to provide roughly $23,000,000 in funding to supplement district capital funds and allow the district to sign major construction contracts.

Treasurer Donley explained the instrument as a lease-like financing tool used by the district previously and by other districts in the region. "We send this on to the underwriter and the bond counsel. They prepare the necessary documents. They go out to market. And, hopefully, by the end of May, we have our our funding, the $23,000,000 to add to our other funds so we can sign the contracts and build the new building," Donley said. He told the board that market interest rates were uncertain at the time of the meeting and offered an estimated range: "It could be somewhere between 4.3% all the way to 5%." He provided an example of interest costs over 20 years as roughly $11,000,000 but noted the district does not plan necessarily to finance for that full term if other funding becomes available.

One board member (identified in the transcript as speaker 12) opposed the motion in strong terms, saying multiple bond issues had been rejected by voters and that the district risked deficit spending if the plan proceeded. That member said they would continue to vote no on actions related to the new school. Supporters responded that the plan was different from prior bond proposals and that the approach used savings and other non-operating revenues to avoid a tax increase.

Roll-call vote on the COPS resolution recorded a majority yes with one recorded no vote.

Separately, the board approved three non-consent technology purchases presented by the superintendent: 35 MacBook Air laptops for junior-high certified staff, 45 CleverTouch Pro Series interactive boards for the intermediate school, and 575 Asus Chromebooks to be used districtwide by students. Board members asked how older devices would be handled; the superintendent said tech staff try to repurpose still-serviceable devices and will consider donation options when feasible. The consent agenda later included disposal of 473 Chromebooks.

Votes at a glance - COPS financing resolution (to underwrite up to $23,000,000): approved (roll-call; majority yes, one no recorded). - 35 MacBook Airs purchase: approved by roll-call. - 45 CleverTouch Pro Series boards: approved by roll-call. - 575 Asus Chromebooks: approved by roll-call.

The meeting record shows the board moved forward with the financing authorization and equipment purchases; district staff said the COPS funds are necessary to proceed with contract signatures once market and underwriting steps are complete.