Xenia school bond issue rejected again

Xenia voters rejected the school district’s 4.2-mill bond issue to build a new middle school/high school, the second time in six months that they’ve said no to the project.

According to unofficial results from the Greene County Board of Elections, Tuesday’s vote was 53.6 percent no, and 46.4 percent yes, with 22 percent voter turnout. That’s a slightly wider margin than November’s vote, when 52.4 percent said no.

Superintendent Denny Morrison said the school board has until May 10 to decide whether to put the levy back on the August ballot for one last try before the current state funding cycle expires.

The state agreed to pay 40 percent of the cost to replace the 1962 Warner Middle School and 1976 Xenia High School with a single building to be constructed at Ohio 42 and Ledbetter Road. The levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $147 per year for 37 years.

Seven years ago, Xenia voters approved a similar bond levy to build five new elementary schools.

“We have beautiful elementary schools, and we were hoping to duplicate those for our sixth through 12th graders,” Morrison said. “I know the economy is still rough, and I certainly understand why people might need to vote no if they cannot afford it . ... We’re just trying to do what’s best for our kids.”

The state-required evaluation of the two existing buildings called them both “borderline,” the middle rating out of three.