Western-Star.com

Kings school officials will move forward with construction and maintenance projects after voters approved a $27.2 million bond issue in Tuesday's special election.

About half of the new property tax revenue, which will start being collected in 2008, will be used for construction and renovations at the high school and junior high.

"We are ecstatic here at the high school," Kings High School Principal Doug Mader said. "We appreciate the community and their support and we promise to create a facility in an atmosphere that the entire community can be proud of and where our students can exceed expectations."

The challenge will continue to be to maximize space during construction, which is slated for completion in 2010.

Enrollment is expected to grow next year from 1,083 to 1,183 students, Mader said. Ideas are being considered to accommodate the additional students in an already crowded high school.

Mader said a few high school classes may take place in junior high classrooms and in the gymnasium. There will also be about five to six teachers who won't have their own classroom and will travel to different classrooms throughout the day.

"It's a management issue, but seeing the light at the end of the tunnel makes the situation easier to deal with," Mader said.

A lot of work still needs to be done before construction begins, said Business Manager Steve Waldmann.

The first step will be to have the high school and junior high resurveyed and to get approval of a storm water management plan, Waldmann said.

The initial focus will be to expand the high school parking area and to relocate the bus garage, said Waldmann, adding that Kings will likely order 10 to 12 new buses soon.

Finalizing designs, which include adding an academic wing and secure entry ways with administrative offices, may take about a year, Waldmann said. The school board will likely begin the bidding process by the end of the year, with construction beginning in 2008.

"This gives us an opportunity to address and correct deficiencies and bring the facilities to another level," Waldmann said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4541 or rwilson@coxohio.com.