The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1958-01-16

they are not willing to consider
this. What are the reasons? Per
hapS the members of the school
board will read this and viii
give The Journal their reasons
for not returning to the county
system and working for a con-
solidated school. In favor of the
proposed bond issue for the new
school building they have
stressed the need. We are all
aware of and admit the need.
But are we going to allow the
immediate need to oyershadoW a
long-range view of the question
and not consider all possible
answers? Why is the present
bond issue for new school
building the right program? And
does it take into consideration all
possible answers. / invite the
Caldwell Exempted school board
to give Us the reasons other than
the immediate need why the
proposed program is the best.
Let's assume that in view of
the need overshadowing wheth-
er or not due consideration has
been given to all possible ans
Wers, and with the desire to
provide adequate school facili-
ties, the people in Caldwell dis
trict pass the proposed bond
issue, and that in the next 5 to
10 years it is found that the new
grade school building is not the
solution to the Caldwell school
problem. What then will be the
situation? First and probably
most important, by law we are
limited to- a bonded indebtedness
of 99o of our total tax evalua ion.
The tax evaluation in the Cald-
well school district is approx
mately $6,000,000. So Caldwell
with its present bonded indebt-
edneSS of approximately $l00,000
plus the $35O,OO0 bond issue
would have d total bonded in
debtedness of approximately
$450,0G0, which would leave ap-
proximately 100000 to use for
additional facilities if they are
necessary. 100000 would prob
ably not be sufficient or go very
far.
Let's further assume that after
this length of time it is decided
it is best that Caldwell re-enter
the county school system and
work for a consolidated high
school, and that the people of
Caldwell and other county school
districts vote for a consolidated
high school. Where is Caldwell
going to get any money to build
this school? If the people in
Caldwell school district pass the
present proposed bond issue they
are tying their hands for at least
the next ten years against any
other solution to adequate school
facilities; they will be stuck
with what they have, whether
or not it is sufficient.
Suppose Caldwell was to re-
enter the county system immedi-
ately and that, recognizing the
need, the voters in the county
school districts and Caldwell
school district vote in favor of
a consolidated high school. The
consolidation plan being pro
posed would include Caldwell
and seven county school districts.
A suggested possible location for
the high school is north of Cald-
well on Route 81. 1t would be
approximately a 400 to 500 pupil
high school. 1t would mean that
of the students presently riding
school buses, many would be on
he buses less time than they
are presently, and at the most
some of the students would be
spending only five to twenty
minutes more day on the
school bus. The total tax evalua-
ton of the properties in the
seven county districts and Cald-
well exceeds $12,000,000. And
with the present bonded indebt-
edness. of all the districts and
taking into consideration the go
limit on bonded indebtedness,
there would still be available
approximately $1,000,000 toward
building consolidated high
school.
If it costs $350,0O0 to build
a school with adequate facilities
for a certain number of chill
dren, any contractor will tell
you that you can build a school
for double the same number of
children for less than $700,000
In other words we can, with a
consolidated school, provide
more adequate facilities for
larger number of pupils at
lower cost. With the proposed
consolidated school program we
could qualify for additional state
money to help us build our
school. It is interesting to note
that Southern Noble consolidated
high school received approx
$4,000 from the State
of Ohio. This is almost 500 of
what the Caldwell school board
is asking the people Of Cald-
we'll district to pay for new
school. Caldwell Exempted
school district does not qualify
for additional state money to-
ward the proposed school. The
entire cost must be borne by the
taxpayers of Caldwell school
district.
Caldwell needs the support of
the people in Noble county. In
turn the people in Noble county
need Caldwell. We have a COM
mon problem. Can't we all work
4annfbnr fnroa4 1lraJl11iHpG and