NEW CASTLE —
The New Castle Area School Board will decide during a special meeting Thursday on whether to proceed with school consolidation.
The proposed Lockley Early Learning Center project comes with a price tag ranging from $22.8 million to $22.9 million, depending upon which of three options, if any, the school board chooses with different alternative bid choices.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m.
At a special meeting last night, the board heard a presentation from Eckles Architecture of the lowest responsible bidders and financial options for the project, which would consolidate four elementary schools into one.
The district opened its second round of construction bids two weeks ago after rejecting the first set, totaling $21,212,075, because the project — remodeling and expanding the Lockley building and closing the West Side, Thaddeus Stevens and John F. Kennedy schools — was deemed too expensive.
District business manager Joe Ambrosini explained that the project would be financed in part with $17.5 million in qualified school construction bonds at zero percent interest as part of the Obama stimulus package. Another $1.5 million was already rolled into the refinancing of the district’s existing debt at a lower interest rate.
The remaining $4 million or so of the project cost could be paid for in one of three ways, he said, noting the district could refinance all or part of it at 3.3 percent interest.
The district could float a bond issue for the entire $4 million, or it could borrow a portion of the $4 million and use part of the district’s $12.5 million fund balance for the rest, or it could take all $4 million from that fund balance, he said.
Ambrosini pointed out that new legislation cuts off the opportunity for districts to receive state reimbursements for school projects as of Oct. 1. New Castle was grandfathered in to receive reimbursement because the plans for the project were submitted the state.
Should the district forego the project, it is unlikely it would be eligible for cost reimbursements in the future, he said.
With the current project, the anticipated reimbursement from the state would amount to $6.4 million, making the district’s share $15,417,323.
Ambrosini estimated that the amount the district would save through consolidation of the elementary schools through staffing reductions and operating costs would equal the amount of the remaining $4 million.
“This consolidation will only work if there is a reduction in staffing,” he explained after the meeting. “As always, the district strives to do this through attrition.”
Following the presentation and questions by board members, Superintendent George Gabriel commented, “It’s the board’s decision now. We’ve done our part. There’s nothing more we can do.”
(Email: dwachter@ncnewsonline.com)
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
New Castle Schools: Board hears Lockley options, to vote Thursday
- Local News
-
-
Movie Memories, Coming Attractions: Leo Mickey walks down memory lane
Do you remember Leo Mickey? He is, perhaps, the best-known theater manager in Lawrence County history.
-
Movie Memories, Part 5: Once upon a time, the city was filled with nickelodeons
At least three of New Castle’s earliest movie theaters were ravaged by fire. But if you were a patron in those days, smoke might not have been the only smell to send you running into the streets. A fog of perfume might have done the trick as well.
-
Movie Memories, Part 4: Penn Theater remembered for opulence, Leo Mickey’s weekend kiddie shows
When today’s New Castle residents recall the city’s former movie theaters, the Penn may be the most fondly remembered. Built in the 1920s, the Penn “was the first one (downtown) to be built as a full-fledged, deluxe theater,” said Jack Oberleitner, a New Castle native and owner of a cinema consulting firm that bears his name.
-
Movie Memories, Part 3: The Hi-Lander and Cinema theaters were the last two New Castle movie houses to go dark
Although the downtown once was dotted with movie theaters, one of the last to close was well up the North Hill. The 750-seat Hi-Lander opened in 1952, the result of a joint effort by two pairs of area drive-in owners: Al Tate and John Wincek (Highway 51 near Darlington, and John Favorite and Joe Glorioso (Blue Sky near Zelienople).
-
No tax hike in Union school budget
The Union Area School Board has introduced a $10.6 budget with no tax increase. If the $10,585,494 spending plan is approved, it will be the third year without a tax increase in the district. The property tax is at 14.42 mills.
-
Movie Memories, Part 2: Monsters, cowboys and ultimately, sex, were staples at State Theater
Second in a series: Daily through Memorial Day, the New Castle News will be looking back at some of the city’s now-defunct movie theaters. These movie houses will be seen primarily through the eyes of New Castle natives with ties to them — including “Mister Movie” himself, Leo Mickey. Today: The State Theater
-
Movie Memories, Part 1: Victor one of many long-gone local theaters
First in a series: Today through Memorial Day, the New Castle News will be looking back at some of the city’s now-defunct movie theaters. These movie houses will be seen primarily through the eyes of New Castle natives with ties to them — including “Mister Movie” himself, Leo Mickey. Today: The Victor
-
Our Opinion: Make the most of your power to vote by casting ballot tomorrow
So what kind of turnout will there be for tomorrow’s primary? Recent history suggests somewhere between low and lousy. This year’s elections are devoted to local races, and there are few major ones being contested in the primary.
-
Relay for Life set for next week
New Castle’s Relay for Life will kick off at 7 p.m. May 31 on the track at Shenango High School’s Glen “Pop” Johnston Stadium. Relay for Life is an organized, overnight fundraising walk for the American Cancer Society.
-
New Castle News names new publisher
Sharon A. Sorg is no stranger to hometown newspapers. It’s no surprise, then, that she’s been selected to lead the newspaper in her hometown. Sorg has been named publisher of the New Castle News, which is just a few miles from her residence in Pulaski Township.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine
Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan
Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested
High Wire Spectacle Thrills Crowd in Austria
Britain Braces for Possible Copycat Attacks
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Today in History May 24
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Today in History May 23
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Today in History May 22
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
