COLUMBUS, Ohio — There are 18,000 single-family homes and counting within the Olentangy Local School District.
The district said for every five homes that are built in the school district, four students are added. That growth is one of the reasons the district said it’s asking taxpayers for more money to build more schools.
Student enrollment has already exceeded expectations.
Last year, there were 23,900 students projected in the fall. As of today, the district said the number is 24,000.
“We know that in the next two to three years, regardless, we are going to increase in enrollment,” said district treasurer Ryan Jenkins.
A growing enrollment means planning for more schools.
“We know that we are planning for three schools to open. Two would open in the fall of 2025. Our high school would open in the fall of 2027,” Jenkins said.
The total build-out will look like this:
- Elementary School 18 on Bean Oller Road, west of Sawmill Parkway
- Elementary School 19 on land adjacent to Berkshire Middle School
- High School 5 on Bunty Station Road, west of Sawmill Parkway
Elementary School 20 and Middle School 7 sites have not been finalized, but would tentatively be located on Curve Road in the central part of the district, north of Berlin High School.
The 4.25 mill levy combines a 3.00 mill operating levy and a 1.25 mill permanent improvement levy.
If passed, it will add $150 a year for every $100,000 in home value.
“We don't like raising taxes but we've come to believe that our community expects educational excellence,” said Jenkins.
The district maintains a 98% graduation rate.
If the levy fails, the district said several of its elementary schools will need to add portable classrooms at a cost of about $500,000 to $600,000, according to Jenkins.
The district said it will need five new schools to accommodate 5,000 additional students over the next 10 years.
Opponents of the levy have asked: What if the projections are off?
“We will build what we need. Just because you are approved for a bond issue at a certain amount of debt you are always monitoring enrollment projections,” said Jenkins.
He said money for new schools can't be spent elsewhere.
Based on the numbers from the district, Olentangy has 673 teachers with a master’s degree who earn more than $100,000. That compares to Columbus City Schools, the largest district in the state, with 579 teachers who earn more than $100,000 with a master’s degree.
The district defends its salaries.
“We believe we have an exceptional teaching force. Our retention rate is over 94%,” said Jenkins.
On Monday, the district learned that it was awarded the Ohio Auditor “Award with Distinction."
The Ohio Auditor of State’s office presents the Auditor of State Award with Distinction to local governments and school districts upon the completion of a financial audit.
This year, only 4% of audited entities met the following criteria of a “clean” audit report.
Olentangy Schools also faces costs for damage caused to school property by a tornado that hit Delaware County last week.
There is damage to the gym floor at Berlin Middle School and roofing and turf at Berlin High School was destroyed, Jenkins said.
He added that the damage from the tornado resulted in an estimated cost of $1 million for the district.
