Xenia schools pass levy

XENIA,Ohio (WDTN) - Xenia Community Schools passed a new bond issue to construct five new elementary school buildings. The vote was 53 percent for the levy, 47 percent against. 

The 3.2 mill levy will replace five crumbling elementary schools. It will cost a homeowner of a $100,000 home about $98 a year, and $73.50 a year for senior citizens with the homestead exemption.

The district won't be collecting on the levy until 2013. 

Xenia Superintendent Dr. Jeff Lewis says some of the buildings were built over 50 years ago and says the children of Xenia deserve better. Right now, he said students are learning in buildings with foundational cracks in classrooms, evidence of asbestos, and issues with heating, cooling.

"They're tired buildings, Lewis said.  "They have withstood half a century. They served the children, staff and community of Xenia, and now its time to replace them." 

Dr. Lewis said the building of schools will also bring in new construction jobs to the city.  Ground breaking on the first new schools will begin in the the fall of 2010.