On Tuesday, May 4, Xenia Community Schools voters approved both a bond issue providing funding for a new Warner Middle School, as well as the renewal of a Permanent Improvement levy.
“I am heartened by the trust that our community has shown through this vote to support a much-needed new facility for our middle school students,” said Dr. Gabe Lofton, Superintendent for Xenia Community Schools. “This has been a long process, but I truly feel that we listened to our community throughout the planning, and that was evident in the outcome.”
The bond issue to replace Warner Middle School passed with 52.4% of voters approving the measure to fund construction of a new building on the current site. The Permanent Improvement levy was supported by 60.6% of voters.
“As established members of this community, board members understand what it means to families to provide a safe and welcoming environment for our students to learn,” said Tamara Bartley, President of the XCS Board of Education. “Replacing the facility built in 1962 with a modern learning environment capable of preparing our students to succeed in high school and beyond is a critical step in preparing for the future of Xenia students.”
The approval of the Permanent Improvement levy will provide funding for the next five years to support projects on the district’s master facilities plan, providing critical maintenance and upgrades to existing facilities.
Next steps for the Warner Middle School project will be to begin the planning process for the new facility.
“With both issues approved, this puts the district in a very strong position moving forward,” Lofton said. “Up to this point, we have had many discussions about what is needed to keep students ‘safe, warm, and dry’ at Warner Middle School — but now that the voters have spoken in support of a new facility, I am excited that we can actively plan to create a safe, modern learning environment for our middle school students that will prepare them well for a bright future.”