MiddletownJournal.com

TRENTON — Edgewood City Schools' pitch for its upcoming bond issue reflects the weak economy: Buy a new school building cheap.

Fliers reading "Limited time offer — 49 percent off new high school" were handed out Thursday, Jan. 9, during an organizational meeting at Edgewood High School.

The group of nearly 100, consisting largely of school staff and administrators, discussed strategy on how to sell its 4.53-mill bond issue to the community — and the group has less than a month to do it. The special election is Feb. 3, and the initiative is the only issue on the ballot in Butler County.

"People need to hear the message that right now from the state, school buildings are on sale," said Alesia Beckett, principal of Seven Mile Elementary School.

Deidre Soileau, a political consultant working on the campaign, told the group its mission is to convince 3,200 people to vote yes on the issue, which will raise $23 million to build the new school. The state would pay the remaining $20 million through the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

However, the bond issue must pass by August, or the money from the state will no longer be available.

"We have to focus on making sure the supporters vote ... our primary goal is to identify positive voters and make them vote," Soileau said.

The people divided into seven groups, each covering a different section of the district, to brainstorm ways to persuade voters. One group — with a focus area of Wayne and St. Clair townships plus the village of Seven Mile — suggested ideas ranging from a family movie night to a "yes appreciation party" after the election.

A new high school, which would be located at Busenbark Road and Riverside Drive, would alleviate overcrowding problems in the district, officials say.

Also, at its organizational meeting, the school board voted to keep John Snyder as president and Jim Wirtley as vice president.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.