Frequently Asked Questions

The bond levy passed with 69% support. What happens next? 

Per the Wyoming City Schools website:

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code, the Board of Elections has 21 days after the date of an election to certify the election results. During that time, the Wyoming City Schools Board of Education will plan for a resolution certifying the placement of the tax on the 2024 tax duplicate for first collection in 2025. This resolution must be approved by the Hamilton County Auditor prior to November 30.

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The Board will also consider a small issuance - approximately $15 million - of tax anticipation notes before the end of 2024. (Issuing the bonds is a lengthier process that is likely to occur in early Spring 2025.) With these notes, the Board can begin the statutory process for selecting an architect, with the first step of sharing a Request for Qualifications from architecture firms.

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Click here for an update draft project schedule

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Why do we need new schools? 

The three current elementary schools are over 70 years old. In addition to just the age of the structure, there are significant other problems, including: 

• Lack of controlled access for security 

• Inability to easily accommodate modern utilities and technology 

• Lack of spaces designed for intended purposes such as art, music and Spanish 

• Insufficient capacity requiring households to be reassigned each year 

As well as just the absence of modern building techniques including insulation, climate control, water management, etc. 

 

Why not renovate? 

There are two challenges with renovation. The first is that Hilltop really could not be renovated. Hilltop faces unique structural challenges from being on the hill, but also the open, multibuilding design creates significant security, administrative and educational challenges. Every view to overcoming these ended up being more expensive than simply replacing the entire school. Replacing only Hilltop and merely renovating the other two would create equity issues as Hilltop rooms would be brought up to modern size standards while renovation at Elm and Vermont would not offer that opportunity. 

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The other issue with renovation is that it simply would not save that much money. Renovation within the existing footprint of Elm and Vermont would not solve most of the challenges for those schools so the need to add additions simply adds many of the same costs as new buildings. In the end renovation costs would end up being 90% of the cost of new buildings while not eliminating a number of the challenges of the existing schools. 

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​​What will the new schools look like? 

While we can’t say exactly how a final design will look, we do have conceptual drawings that are very helpful for envisioning  our future primaries. After a competitive bid process, Ruetschle Architects was hired and has guided the schools, the 38 member facilities steering committee, and the community through a master planning process. This process has included traffic studies, community surveys, geotechnical land surveys, and a close analysis of building and land configurations. Based on everything that was learned in this process, we have arrived at a strong master plan complete with building concepts. Once the levy is passed and the bond issue authorizes payment, the in-depth design of the buildings will begin. This will be a many months process that will involve the community.

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Click here to view conceptual planning diagrams for Elm, Vermont, and Hilltop schools

 

We do know even now that these new buildings will all share improved security, larger classrooms, and improved functional learning spaces that do not exist today. What improvements are possible with this levy? 

 

Just some of the improvements you can expect to see include: 

• More secure buildings with controlled access. 

• Improved traffic patterns 

• More diverse educational spaces 

• Improved cafeterias 

• More cost-effective use of technology 

• More energy efficient buildings 

• Modernizations across the entirety of the building and grounds

 

If I don’t have kids, why does this matter to me? 

Excellent question! At any given time, most Wyoming residents (two-thirds) do not have children in the Wyoming schools. However, our excellent schools have been core to the identity of Wyoming as a community for decades. Having quality schools attracts new families to our community and sustains the value of homes throughout Wyoming. As a practical and financial matter, our community cannot afford to let aging school buildings bring down our property values. Other communities and peer districts such as Sycamore, Indian Hill, Mariemont, and Madeira have all invested in substantial building projects since 2021. Our property values and the excellence of our school district go hand in hand. The appeal of Wyoming schools provides stability in the desirability of our city as a place to live. As well, new schools will bring improvements that will impact those who live in the immediate vicinity of each elementary school.

 

How was it decided which school to rebuild first? 

Hilltop Elementary offers the most significant challenges of the three schools both in terms of the scale of changes to the buildings but also in managing the number of students involved. For these reasons, it reduces both challenges and risks to do the Hilltop renovation in phase 1 and Vermont and Elm in phase 2.  

 

Why not put the swing space for Hilltop in the park beside the existing school? 

Using the park at Hilltop is not a possibility for several reasons. Primary among these is that the existing water facilities in that space do not allow for the placing of structures near the water tower or in other areas of the park. So, although it looks like a lot of open space, it is not usable for buildings. Regardless, placing elementary age kids in such close proximity to a construction zone would be undesirable anyway. 

 

What is “Swing Space”? 

Put simply swing space is where to temporarily shelter and educate our students while the schools are being renovated. In our case, we will be constructing temporary schools at both the High School and the Middle School which will include air conditioning, carpeting, full bathrooms and enough square footage for all the classroom and support needs of each school. 

 

How were the locations chosen for the Swing Space? 

The District considered over a half dozen sites in Wyoming as possible swing space including other open spaces and already existing buildings. Each of the other sites had insurmountable challenges which included logistical problems getting kids in and out,  environmental limitations of some open spaces, or conflicting building use requirements for existing structures. Temporarily locating students outside of the community was also considered but quickly shelved as undesirable. 

 

Would it be less disruptive to only build one school at a time? 

This too was considered in the process. However, research and evaluation showed that there were no significant savings from doing each school sequentially while simultaneously extending the time period for significant construction work in the community. Conversely, the District also considered whether it would be possible to build all three schools at the same time. In the end the combination of the difficulty of finding swing space for all three schools inside the community at the same time and the unique challenges of the Hilltop site, led to the current proposal. 

 

Who is advocating for this? 

The Yes for Wyoming Schools Committee is leading the push for adoption of the new levy. The committee itself includes people with kids in all ages of the school system as well as community members with no kids in the schools. However, many other people have expressed support for this new bond and the potential it has to keep Wyoming Schools at the level of excellence they have sustained for many decades. Additionally, the purposes to which the money would be spent would address a wide range of concerns from stakeholders across the schools, including: 

• Parents who want to see our children offered more opportunities  

• Teachers who have struggled with sharing outdated spaces 

• Neighbors who want to see children kept as safe as possible 

• Homeowners who want to protect their property values 

• Grandparents who want to see their young grandchildren have the same educational excellence as their parents enjoyed as kids. 

• Administrators who know current buildings are not as efficient or cost-effective as they could be. 

• Community members who want to ensure that the words City of Wyoming always stand for excellence in eduction. 

 

Why am I hearing from you and not the schools? 

By law, school officials, such as our Superintendent, Treasurer, and other administrators can give factual information as it relates to an impending levy but they cannot take an official stance on how a citizen should vote while acting in their official capacity. As well, school funds cannot be used to advocate for or against a levy, and teachers may advocate for the levy only in their off hours. School board members can explain why they voted to put the bond issue on the ballot and answer citizens’ questions at any time. As well, outside of official board meetings, school board members are allowed to volunteer time to advocate for a levy. 

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What is the specific bond issue language that will appear on the ballot?

31 PROPOSED BOND ISSUE
Wyoming City School District

A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage.
Shall bonds be issued by the Wyoming City School District for the purpose of new construction, improvements,
renovations, and additions to school facilities, including the construction of three new primary schools, and
providing equipment, furnishings, and site development and improvements, and all necessary appurtenances
therefor, including modern technology, and safety, security and accessibility measures, as well as land
acquisition and capitalized interest, in the principal amount of $72,500,000, to be repaid annually over a
maximum period of 37 years, and an annual levy of property taxes be made outside the ten-mill limitation,
estimated by the county auditor to average over the repayment period of the bond issue 7.98 mills for each $1 of
taxable value, which amounts to $279 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, commencing
in 2024, first due in calendar year 2025, to pay the annual debt charges on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on
any notes issued in anticipation of those bonds?

__ FOR THE BOND ISSUE 
__ AGAINST THE BOND ISSUE

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How much will it cost? 

The total Bond Levy will be 7.98 mill to raise $72.5 million. However, the Wyoming School District will pay off the current High School bond at the end of 2024. So, after paying off the maturing bond, the net cost to Wyoming residents will actually be 4.62 mill.  In practice this means Wyoming residents are projected to pay an additional $161.61 per $100,000 of assessed market value. 

 

It is important to understand that assessed value is not the same as the market value of your home.   The assessed value is defined as 35% of the market value and the millage is applied to the assessed value.  

 

For instance, a sample Wyoming house has an estimated market value of $298,580 according to the tax distribution tab of the Hamilton County's auditor website.  However, its assessed value is only $104,510 (35% of the market value) and that is what the additional millage (tax) is calculated on.  So, the cost of the bond the homeowner in this example would be $482.83 annually. 

 

Here is a full example:

Market value of $298,580

Assessed value is 35% of the market value...so...

Assessed value is $104,510

Millage is 4.62 

Multiply the assessed value of $104,510 by .00462

So the tax increase is $482.83

Which we can simplify by saying is about $162 per $100,000 of the original market value.