Voters Approve $89.93 Million PLSD Bond

November 9, 2022
Pickerington Online Staff

On November 8, voters approved the Pickerington Local School District’s (PLSD) $89.93 million bond issue to build more classrooms.

On the PLSD website, Superintendent Chris Briggs posted the following statement:

A HUGE THANK YOU to the Pickerington voters who helped pass our much-needed bond issue! I am thrilled that you voted YES for our students, for more space for teaching and learning, and for the future of Pickerington Schools and the entire community! On behalf of the bond committee and the district, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support during this historic time where Pickerington Schools is facing unprecedented growth!

Now with your support, district leaders will begin working right away on implementing the district’s capital plan, which includes the proceeds from the $89.930 million bond issue, to:

  • Build a new junior high school that can house up to 1,300 students
  • Renovate all of Ridgeview Junior High to convert to a building holding separate kindergarten to fourth grade elementary and fifth to sixth grade middle schools; this creates an eighth elementary school that will house about 450 elementary students, and a fourth middle school that will house about 450 middle school students
  • Add 24 additional classrooms at Central High School housing up to 650 students; upgrade the cafeteria, expanding capacity by 200 additional students; install secure entryways
  • Add 18 additional classrooms to North High School housing up to 470 additional students; install secure entryways
  • Renovate and upgrade multiple elementary schools to accommodate growth, making room for up to 375 additional students.
Once the new junior high is built the Ridgeview building will become a fourth middle school and eighth elementary.

While it may take awhile for all of the construction to be completed, rest assured we will move forward as quickly as possible and will post updates on our progress, every step of the way. We are so #PLSDProud of the faith and confidence you have demonstrated in the district at the polls, and we are ready and eager to do the work that will continue to make Pickerington Schools a destination district that is Educating for Tomorrow.

   

What a great night for this amazing school district!

The 2.8 mill levy will equate to a tax of approximately $100 per year for every $100,000 of appraised property value. For Fairfield County residents, you can search for an address on the auditor’s website to find the specific numbers for a property.

The district is also now eligible to receive $75 million in funds from the state. The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) grants money to school districts for building improvements based on need. To be eligible, a district must first show that it has community support by passing a ballot issue. See: State Gives Funds

The unofficial results from the Franklin County Board of Elections show that 95 people (56-percent) voted for the bond while 75 people (44-percent) voted against. In Fairfield County, 12,056 people (57.28-percent) voted for the bond while 8,990 people (42.72-percent) voted against.