NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) – City school district officials will be busy now through March hoping to convince voters to support their new campus plan. The school board approved a deal to purchase the Oak Shadows Golf Course for $3-million Friday, contingent upon voters passing a $57.5-million dollar bond issue along with a 0.5-mill additional levy in the spring.

Superintendent David Brand says the district would construct one new elementary school and one new secondary building at that 280-acre site.

“It’ll unify our district in a way for equality across the board that it doesn’t matter what address you live at, your child will still receive the same education no matter what the address is and get the same opportunities, so we are excited about that. This is a great property,” he says.

Brand says the site allows the district to provide safe and secure facilities with adequate room for traffic and other needs.

“It’s a large property. We know that but that gives us opportunities to find best locations for buildings, parking, practice fields, et cetera. It’s the right plan at the right time that will save our taxpayers,” he says.

The campus plan totals $100-million dollars, with the state offering to cover 55-percent of the cost.     

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