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Parkview district educating voters about referendum

NEWARK TOWNSHIP — It's "absolutely critical" that Parkview School District voters understand the $5 million referendum on the April 3 ballot, school board President Troy Knudson told residents Monday at Newark Elementary.

"So you can make the decision that is the right decision for you and the right decision for Parkview," he said.

Nearly 20 people attended the first of a series of informational meetings on Parkview's upcoming referendum.

Meetings will be scheduled weekly up until the election to answer questions from voters, Knudson said. Here are some questions from residents and information from the district:

Q: What is being proposed?

A: The referendum seeks up to $5 million to add 13 permanent classrooms and a new gym at Orfordville Elementary so kindergarten through sixth grade can all be at one location.

Footville and Newark schools would close.

Orfordville has 218 students. After consolidation, the number would jump to 480.

The board has approved a work contract with Gilbank Construction of Clinton.

Q: Will the new gym be used for high school sports?

A: Varsity sports still would be played at the high school, Superintendent Steve Lutzke said. Freshmen teams would play in the new gym.

The board downsized the gym from its original plan, but the proposed gym would fit a high school basketball court with bleacher seats for up to 250 people. Two locker rooms, an equipment storage room, athletic office and restrooms are included.

Q: What is the estimated tax impact?

A: The district would borrow over a 10-year span. A resident with a $100,000 home would see an annual increase of $117. The owner of a $200,000 home would see an increase of $234.

Q: What will happen to Newark and Footville after they close?

A: No decisions have been approved. After the schools close, the district would find some way to liquidate them, Knudson said. If the district sold them, the revenue would help offset expenses, he said.

Q: What will happen if the referendum fails and three school board candidates who have a different plan for consolidation are elected? Can a new board change the plans?

A: The referendum is not binding, Lutzke said. If a new board is elected, it could take a new vote, he said. If the current board remains, residents know the direction the board would take, Knudson said.

Q: If the referendum fails, are you going to buy portable classrooms?

A: Portable classrooms started as the first plan, but board members wanted to give residents a choice. That was how the referendum plan started, Lutzke said.

A district brochure on the referendum and the board's presentation did not include information about portable classrooms, but the board voted last year to add them using money from district reserves if the referendum fails.