“In the coming weeks, our initial steps will focus on selecting an architect and engineering design team to bring this vision to life. Once the design team is in place, the next step will be partnering with a construction company that will collaborate with the architects throughout the design and building process,” said Buskirk.
After years of delays, Monroe’s efforts to make progress toward a new high school were green-lighted by voters’ approval of a 3.49-mill tax bond issue in November to cover a major portion of the design and construction costs.
The state — through Monroe’s partnership with the OFCC — will now provide $25.36 million of the new high school’s $62.10 million projected price tag.
The remaining amount will be provided local revenue generated by the 3.49-mill tax bond issue just approved by voters.
Monroe’s new 3.49-mill rate – which will not begin to be collected until 2029 – will translate to $122 annually per $100,000 home when it starts, or slightly less than the current 3.50-mills it will replace that year, said district officials.
Preliminary plans call for the new high school building to be built in the currently empty southeast corner of Monroe’s school campus on Yankee Road, which houses grades 2-12 in a single, three-winged school complex.
Monroe Schools is one of Butler County’s fastest growing districts and has seen its student population nearly double since 2004 with increasingly crowded classrooms in recent years.
A solution is now on the horizon, said Buskirk.
“With the OFCC contributing funds and serving as a partner in this project, we are confident that this will be a thoughtfully planned and expertly executed endeavor.”
Adam Marcum, spokesman for Monroe Schools, said “we had our first meeting with the OFCC on Dec. 11 and have outlined some next steps, however there is no concrete timeline on anything just yet.”
Buskirk said: “Thanks to the bond issue, we have started on an exciting journey to build a new Monroe High School.”
“This new facility will provide much-needed space for our students and staff and will be a source of pride for our entire community for generations to come. Your support has made this possible, and we are eager to get started,” he said.
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