School levy to go on ballot in Hancock County

NEW CUMBERLAND -- A bond levy proposed by Hancock County Schools will be going on the ballot as part of the Nov. 5 election.

The Hancock County Commission, Thursday, approved a request from the school district to have its proposed $10,650,000 bond levy placed on the county's election ballot with a 3-0 vote.

"This is subject to approval by the Hancock County School Board," Commissioner Paul Cowey explained.

The county board of education gave its approval to the proposed bond levy during its meeting Monday night.

Cowey and Commissioner Eron Chek took part in Thursday's meeting in person, with Commission President Jeff Davis participating by telephone.

According to school officials, bonds would be sold to fund a series of security and improvement projects at each school facility in the county, with the levy having a 10 1/2 year term to pay off the bonds.

Taxes would be collected at a rate of 3.82 cents per $100 of assessed value on Class I property; 7.64 cents per $100 on Class II property; and 15.28 cents per $100 on Class III and Class IV properties.

Designated projects and their costs for each school would include:

Oak Glen High School, $2,096,728 for gymnasium improvements, theater improvements, visitor identification systems, security vestibule upgrades, security camera installations, weapons detection systems, cell phone boosters, lunch table replacements, improvements to the baseball and softball field concrete areas, paving and parking lots, HVAC, elevator, signage, storage building and a fire alarm system.

Weir High School, $2,150,352, gymnasium improvements, theater improvements, visitor identification systems, security camera installations, weapons detection systems, cell phone boosters, lunch table replacements, paving and parking lot improvements, HVAC, roof and skylights, signage, storage building, fencing, guardrails and fire alarm systems.

John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center, $1,296,422, visitor identification systems, security camera installations, weapons detection systems, security vestibule upgrades, security gates, cell phone boosters and improvements to paving and parking lots, elevator, signage, storage buildings and fire alarm systems.

Oak Glen Middle School, $1,633,011, gymnasium upgrades, security camera installations, visitor identification systems, weapons detection systems, security vestibule upgrades, pyrite remediation project, cell phone booster, lunch table replacement, paving and parking lots, HVAC, storage building and signage.

Weir Middle School, $1,173,417, gymnasium improvements, theater improvements, security camera installations, visitor identification systems, weapons detection systems, cell phone booster, lunch table replacements, paving and parking lots, HVAC, signage and fire alarm systems.

A.T. Allison Elementary, $530,220, play yards, paving and parking lot improvements, security camera installation, visitor identification system, weapons detection systems, cell phone boosters, storage building, and lunch table replacements.

New Manchester Elementary, $500,821, play yards, paving and parking lot improvements, security camera installation, visitor identification systems, weapons detection systems, cell phone boosters, and lunch table replacements.

Weirton Elementary, $664,135, play yards, additional access road, paving and parking lot improvements, visitor identification systems, weapons detection systems, security camera installation, cell phone booster and lunch table replacements.

Transportation and Maintenance Facilities, $444,894, a new salt shed, security camera installation, paving improvements at each facility.