As of 8/23/24 There are two numbers to focus on in grades K-6. First, is the average class size per teacher, the other is total class size in parentheses. K = 19.25 (77), 1 =25.6 (77), 2 = 20.25 (81), 3 = 21 (84), 4 = 24.6 (74), 5 = 26.8 (94), 6 = 27.7 (97) Total enrollment in the following grades: 7 = 82, 8 = 71, 9 = 78, 10 = 74, 11 = 67, 12 = 70

Less students per class allows the teacher more one to one time per student. The more students, the less individual attention to meet the needs of the students. Many of the requirements for core subjects have increased over the years, including reading and math at earlier ages, starting in Kindergarten. Expectations of students and teachers have increased and research has proven smaller class sizes result in better outcomes. The Board of Education, Administration, and school staff hear most often from constituents that small class sizes are desired and one of the main reasons families choose Columbia. Most of our new homes are resulting in students in grades K-6 so far. See question #1 on enrollment.

The new stage will provide our students with a fantastic experience; it is two and a half times larger with all the amenities they need to perform. This question was explored during the design planning. Ultimately we think the cost is not economical for the community. The cost of a dedicated auditorium will be several million dollars, for a facility which will only be used a limited amount during the year. The proposed stage meets the needs, is more economical, and will accommodate more seating than an auditorium could for performances and school functions.

Yes. The CMS band and choir rooms are about half the size of the high school. The only issue in the CHS band room is storage for instruments and uniforms. We will be addressing this issue but it will not be a part of the project or bond issue. Each year in the district we are able to make improvements utilizing the Permanent Improvement funds that were passed in 2010.

Yes, we will expand based on need. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) has become a focus to meet the demands of the future workforce and give students strong foundational skills and experiences in these subjects. CLSD has seen significant interest and engagement in these subjects by students, parents, and the community over the last several years.

If you would like to tour the building, please contact Graig Bansek at 440.236.5008

There will be a student collaboration area for them to have a quiet, comfortable space, to focus on their studies during such periods. This space will go where the current main office is located and be centrally located in CHS.

Students do not really have “downtime” during the school day. CLSD students typically have full schedules of classes, and when not in class they have study hall periods, when they are expected to be completing homework and projects. The “student collaboration space” will be a room for CCP students to do online classes, and for all students to study and collaborate. Student collaboration is important to teach teamwork, an essential for workforce development.

On a yearly basis, the auditor will refigure the number of properties in the Township and that will be reflected on the following year tax bills.

Yes, as more homes are built, the yearly payment will be recalculated resulting in lower payments for all.

Just as your payments on the bond levy will go down as more homes are built in Columbia, the same will happen with the renewal. The current renewal levy is to allocate CLSD the same budget it has had for the last 15+ years to complete routine maintenance and upkeep on the buildings and equipment. The renewal levy is typically brought to a vote every five years, asking the voters to approve CLSD to maintain the same budget for its annual expenses. The renewal does not increase that budget.

Absolutely not! We have been working on this plan since August of 2022 and the Board of Education has been discussing the potential need for even longer. It coincides with our increased enrollment and requests from the community for more space and renovations. Per Pulte Homes Executive team, Dell Web residents are likely to vote in favor of school levies, as they see a strong community as a benefit to their home values.

Sports Complex (Structure only): $9,150,000. Ballfields: $650,000; I cannot feasibly break out the various items within the 3rd question. Our estimates are based upon quantity takeoffs by construction systems - not area. UPDATED 9/23/24: Actual Cost $4,242,153. Because the gym is being used for Copopa students during the school day for gym class, this would be considered educational costs.

Just as your mortgage payment stays the same when your home value goes up, your tax payment towards the bond Levy will also stay the same. Although your payment will never go up over the 37 year timeframe, It will go down as more homes are built in the township. The payment will decrease because there will be more properties to share the payment.

The current bond levy for the first addition of Copopa to CMS will be paid off November 1, 2039. It is also worth noting, taxes on this levy have gone down as CLSD refinanced the bonds to a lower interest rate and funds were returned to taxpayers. Your taxes have also decreased as more homes have been built.

12% ($4,242,153 of $38,500,000) It should be noted that the gym will be used for Copopa physical education during the day and allow for better class scheduling for elementary and middle school students. Copopa currently shares half of the CMS gym.

There is state funding available for all school projects across the state. Districts are ranked via a system based on “district need and property values”. We are ranked 540th out of 609 school districts or 8% funding. Our finance team has determined that we would need to be at least 18%-20% to pursue and be economical. State funding comes with mandatory square foot classroom sizes, does not fund performing arts facilities, any athletic and very limited renovations. When a district elects state funding, it increases costs, takes away local control, timing of the project, and who we select as an architect. Our total State funds would have been less than $300,000, but would have increased the project cost by millions.

Any monies remaining at the conclusion of the project will be put back towards the principal balance of the bond issue; CLSD is not permitted to retain excess funds. This, in turn, will reduce the payment of each taxpayer.

We have to do everything in our power to get this bond issue passed. If it fails, it will go back on the ballot. The need is not going away in the foreseeable future. Columbia is a growing community and we have extreme needs for these facilities. Also, if it fails, it will cost an additional $3-$6 million more each year that it does not pass. So, in simple terms, the best bargain is passing it in November. Updated 9/30/24...As of last week, we needed another space for an Intervention Specialist with small class sizes. We combined our elementary and middle school gym teachers in the same office and utilized the elementary gym office to accommodate the growth. We are examining our last two options for space at the K-8 building. These spaces include the media center and the stage in the cafeteria. A classroom will be built on the stage area soon. We also looked into moving the 8th graders to CHS, but this option is not feasible at this time. Again, this shows why space is needed for our students.

If we need to hire additional employees, money will come from the general fund. The hiring of additional employees will be based on our enrollment numbers per grade and square footage. We will have to hire additional support staff.

The money from gate receipts for home athletic events goes into the Athletic fund and is used to pay for uniforms and supplies, referees/umpires, security at games, entry fees. This fund supports the operation of every sport that is offered at CLSD. CLSD receives no funding from the OHSAA for playoff games in any sport. Ticket revenue for playoff games goes directly to the OHSAA.

If this is the RFI acronym I am accustomed to in the construction world, I am not sure what is meant by this question.

It is not! We are actually requesting much less. Area districts in the last year requested the following ballot issues: N. Ridgeville $143 million, Avon Lake $170 million, Buckeye $74 million, Medina $98.9 million, Parma $199 million, to name a few. We are proposing the additions and renovations to our buildings versus building new because our buildings are in great shape. Adding onto our buildings instead of building separate new facilities will save millions of dollars.

While we understand that not having high school morning busing can be a hindrance to our parents, we do not have the ability to offer it. We are currently down one driver to begin this school year. We are also one of very few districts that even offer high school busing.

Based on the increased enrollment and the numerous services that students require, we are out of classroom space in our buildings. In order to build new/renovate buildings, we need money now to pay for builders and materials, thus we need a loan for $38.5M. No different than if one is to construct a new home; the choice is to either have all the cash needed at closing to start the project or take out a loan that will be paid back over time. In order to issue a school district bond, which is a loan, we must have the constituents' voted approval to guarantee to the bond holders that the loan will be paid back. Therefore, CLSD needs to have voters' approval and say "yes we agree to pay for this." Then, the issuers and buyers of the bonds know the community has agreed and guaranteed that specific monies are set aside to pay for the debt. This is why the proposed bond issue is over 37 years. Just like a home mortgage, we could make it shorter, but then the annual payments go up dramatically: Example: $38.5M divided by 37 years = $1.04M per year + interest $38.5 divided by 15 years = $2.57M per year + interest $38.5M divided by 5 years = $7.7M per year + interest The 37 year term results in the most manageable annual payments for our tax payers. On the Lorain County Auditor's website you can find the chart that outlines the total voted millage for all public entities in Lorain County. CLSD is listed as having 55.746 mills; this number represents the original voted millage. In other words, the amount of mills each levy was originally approved by our community. For example, the “1980 Current Expense Levy” was originally 4.0 mills and that is the number which is included in the 55.746 figure. However, the effective millage today is 1.800652 mills, because more homes have been built and property values have increased. Ohio House Bill 920, passed in 1976, prevents school levies from increasing due to inflating property values. CLSD does not get more money on these levies, only the maximum amount the voters originally approved. CLSD's total effective millage is currently at 31.843007 mills. Every year the County Auditor adjusts the millage on the levies in accordance with the District's assessed values and the Auditor collects the same dollar amount as to the amount the levies were originally passed. So, in short, as more homes are built, each taxpayer sees a reduction in their tax bill for our schools based on these levies. Please see below for a listing of our levies, what they can be used for, the original millage rates, and current millage rates for each. CLSD only receives additional funds for property value increases on One Levy: “General Fund Inside Mills: Voted 5.1 mills.” This is the only levy which grows with property values and makes up only 16% of CLSD’s revenues. 84% of the funds allocated to CLSD currently, cannot increase with property values; it only increases with additional levies approved by the voters. School Levies our residents are currently paying: General Fund Inside Mills: Voted 5.1 mills, effective as of today 5.1 mills Used for day to day operations of the district such as salaries, benefits, instructional materials/books, software, office supplies, transportation, utilities, maintenance 1976 Current Expense Voted millage = 30.2 mills, effective millage as of today = 10.493020 mills Used for day to day operations of the district such as salaries, benefits, instructional materials/books, software, office supplies, transportation, utilities, maintenance 1980 Current Expense Voted millage = 4 mills, effective millage as of today = 1.800652 mills Used for day to day operations of the district such as salaries, benefits, instructional materials/books, software, office supplies, transportation, utilities, maintenance 2010 Permanent Improvement Voted millage = 2 mills, effective millage as of today = 1.467556 mills Cannot be used for salaries and benefits. It is used for capital improvements on our buildings such as roofs, parking lot maintenance, equipment, etc. 2011 Bond Issue Voted millage = 1.13 mills, effective millage as of today = 1.13 mills Used to pay the bonds issued to build the addition of Copopa onto Columbia Middle School. Cannot be used for anything else! 2013 Substitute Voted millage = 7.816 mills, effective millage as of today = 7.816 mills Used for day to day operations of the district such as salaries, benefits, instructional materials/books, software, office supplies, transportation, utilities, maintenance 2013 Current Expense Voted Millage = 5.5 mills, effective millage as of today = 4.035779 Used for day to day operations of the district such as salaries, benefits, instructional materials/books, software, office supplies, transportation, utilities, maintenance Total Millage: Voted = 55.746000 and Effective = 31.843007 "Effective mills is what you are paying for on your property taxes." Here is also a document which helps clarify levies as they relate to schools: https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/sites/default/files/OSBAUnderstandingLeviesFactSheet.pdf#:~:text=In%201976%2C%20the%20Ohio%20General%20Assembly%20passed%20House,both%20Class%20I%20and%20Class%20II%20real%20property

Based on our calculations, we anticipate these additions to support our growth now and in the near future.

Shook has been fortunate to work on many School District enhancement projects. Most recently, Manchester Local Schools, Perry Local Schools, Garfield Heights City Schools, Kent City Schools, Brecksville City Schools, & Lexington Local Schools over the past year.

Yes. This facility will still be used by our physical education classes, performing arts and our community.

Shook has been fortunate to work on many School District enhancement projects. Most recently, Manchester Local Schools, Perry Local Schools, Garfield Heights City Schools, Kent City Schools, Brecksville City Schools, & Lexington Local Schools over the past year.

Unfortunately, we cannot.

It is a warming kitchen and serving line. All food will be prepared at CMS and will be transported by hot and cold carts to be served to our students at Copopa.

There will be little food preparation in the warming kitchen. All food will be prepared at CMS and will be transported by hot and cold carts to be served to our students at Copopa. Quality will still remain the same.

Yes. Most districts transfer food from one building to other buildings within the district. A full kitchen is not necessary.

Classroom spaces are the number one concern! Site work is the first thing to be completed in the winter months. The fields will be part of this site work. The schedule is based on the architect being able to get sitework drawings out ahead of the more complex building drawings, allowing the entire project to be constructed more quickly. Our timeline for completion shows the importance of this entire project.

We believe that this space is appropriate.

Final determinations have not been made at this time. However, we would like to use it for traffic headed west on route 82.

Yes. Our current Copopa took over 12 years to reach capacity. But, it is hard to say what will happen 10 years from now. With this project, we are preparing to provide the necessary additions for the future.

It will become a storage area for CHS. We will have to remove the current storage area to construct the new stage.

The stage at CMS has been used for storage for the past several years. It is not nearly big enough to have shows or concerts on this stage. UPDATE 10/24/24: The stage at CMS is currently being renovated to be used as a classroom.

The current gym at CMS will be used for CMS physical education and athletic events. The current gym at CHS will be used for CHS physical education and performing arts. The new athletic facility will be used by Copopa physical education as well as all CHS athletics. All gyms can be used by the community when it is free.

These seats have not been purchased. However, they will be portable theater seats.

Yes. Both building projects will be constructed simultaneously.

Shook Construction’s Pre Construction Team. Should there be interest in pursuing bid packages produced by Shook, please reach out to jmagda@shookconstruction.com to get prequalified to have an opportunity at bidding the work.

There will be new playground equipment purchased as a part of the project. The current playground equipment has served us very well for over 30 years.

New flooring in all classrooms and cafeteria. Renovation of the courtyard area will also take place. All driveways and parking lots will be milled and resurfaced. When the first Copopa addition was completed in 2012, several updates were also made to CMS.

Copopa Addition and Athletic Facility will open in November of 2026 Athletic fields will open up in spring of 2026 CHS addition will open in August 2026 CMS renovations will be completed by August 2026

Anytime you have a project going on in the district, it impacts education. However, we will try to keep the disruptions to a minimum. We do not have the ability to vacate either building during construction. Although there will be work going on outside the existing buildings during the school year, the majority of work inside the buildings will be completed during summer months.

Yes, via the new road from the transportation garage to the schools. We evaluate transportation each year. If the need arises to purchase a bus, it will be done. As a matter of fact, we just purchased one this year. Yes, we have more than enough space to service our fleet and if it increases with current staffing.

Yes. It will be a professional system for our performers.

We are removing one side of the bleachers at the current high school gym. This is because we will be installing portable theater seating for performances. Our intention is to sell them, if we can.

Copopa was added onto CMS in 2012 CMS was built in 1969, addition in 1979 CHS (West wing) was built in 1955, additions in 1959 (Main), 1963 (Library), 1969 (Shop and Music), 1975 (Wrestling room).

Shook has been fortunate to work on many School District enhancement projects. Most recently, Manchester Local Schools, Perry Local Schools, Garfield Heights City Schools, Kent City Schools, Brecksville City Schools, & Lexington Local Schools over the past year.

Final determinations have not been made at this time. However, we would like to use it for traffic headed west on route 82.

Public bids will be welcomed by those in our community. It will be announced and communicated when the time comes. Should there be interest in pursuing bid packages produced by Shook, please reach out to jmagda@shookconstruction.com to get prequalified to have an opportunity at bidding the work

Yes

It is not a field house. Most field houses contain field turf and a running track. This is a gym with a wrestling room, community space, and lobby, etc. It is also being used for Copopa physical education during the day.

No. CMS will have their own playground space near the school.

New windows, new flooring in existing spaces, new restrooms across from the cafeteria, office space, expanded cafeteria, new cooler in the kitchen, student lounge and safe/secure entrance to the building. The front bus loop will be reconfigured and repaved with additional parking spots available.

Many inside the county and outside the county. These conversations take place more than people think. However, for each school district, buildings are unique to that school district. Builds are based on our community and the needs of our students and staff.

Around 900. This capacity is based on 18” seats. 100 plus of these seats will be for a students section located on the baseline. Our current gym has seating for 550. It is way too small for wrestling tournaments and rival athletic events. We are also hoping to get OHSAA tournament games that will provide the district additional revenue.

No field turf will be installed in this project.

Bleacher seating on both sides of the court with a student section on the baseline. Please refer to images of the project on the website.

Yes. We welcome the use of our facilities with our community. Several groups already use our facilities at no cost.

The practice field in the project is for soccer, CMS football and the community. All other fields are for games/practices.

Because all of our current fields are not the best option for our student athletes. Our student athletes deserve what other schools invest in their communities. Multiple conversations have taken place with our Trustees in regards to the park and we decided the best option was to build new. To renovate the park fields for our student athletes would cost an estimated $1.2 million dollars.

We will have a transfer bus at the end of the day to transport them to the school as we do currently with our CMS students to CHS.

Please see the previous answer.

Separate playgrounds will be available for CMS and Copopa.

Yes, when it is available.

There will be disruptions. It is a construction site. However, we will do our best to keep these distractions to a minimum. Construction workers will not enter the school buildings. However, all construction workers will be required to be fingerprinted and have an ID on them at all times.

Not sure of this question, but during construction, there are multiple cameras watching over the site. Currently there are no plans to have security on site unless the construction companies agree to this.

Some of our buses have cameras on the inside as well as the outside of the bus. The notification system is different from the security cameras.

At this time, we will not have this system.

Only CHS outside doors that lead into the building.

Just the windows at the entrance.

We have met with the Columbia Fire Department and the Lorain County Sheriff's Department. We presented the entire project and they gave input into the entire project.

We do not want to address any safety plans in the public forum. However, be rest assured that we do have plans in place.

Our buildings are secure and safe for our students. Again, we do not want to address safety plans in a public forum.

If you mean during construction, we will have to shut down the main entrance at CHS. A temporary entrance will be constructed. More information will be provided when appropriate.

All new doors will have intrusion software with notification to administrative staff when open.