Several dozen local church pastors, community leaders, past city mayors, on Thursday, October 24 at the Tabernacle Church to urge citizens to cast a “yes” vote for Issue 19 on the November 5 general election ballot.
“Issue 19 is focused on the belief that every student is prepared to succeed,” said Tabernacle Pastor Calvin Sweeney as he opened up the press conference.
Issue 19 is a 5.8 mill new money request to support district operations and provide ongoing maintenance to buildings and facilities and the initial renovation of the Scott Park campus. It is the first new money request Toledo Public Schools has sought in 11 years.
“It is time for a resurrection,” said TPS Superintendent Romules Durant, EdD, of the renovations that will occur at Scott Park including “education, recreation and residential.”
Durant, who was recently received recognition as the 2024 Urban Educator of the Year at the Council of the Great City Schools 68th annual fall conference, attributed his award to TPS’ ongoing ability to innovate while working with community partners “to create education opportunities” without consistently asking the public for more funds.
“We’re excited about the innovation and the revitalization of Scott Park,” he said, noting that Scott Park had been closed for 25 years.
“We have the opportunity to make things great in the city of Toledo,” he added.
The campus will include three new magnet high schools that will allow students to matriculate from seventh grade to bachelor’s degree. The project includes partnerships with Owens Community College and the University of Toledo both of which signed a letter of intent with TPS for the project in February of this year.
The three new magnet schools will include:
- College of Business Academy
- College of Education and Social Services Academy – (training teachers, school counselors and fire fighters etc.)
- Construction and Architectural Academy
The $100 million Scott Park project will include a fitness center, dining hall, recreational athletic dome, administrative suites, outdoor and indoor construction training facilities, three academies, child-care center, ministry office, residential facilities and fishing pond, among other amenities. The campus will also be a part of a two-park system that is connected to Ottawa Park via the bike trail.
An $84 million annual return to the community is anticipated from the project via the new opportunities and work being done at Scott Park. It will bring an estimated 3,000 jobs to the campus.
“Yes, we do need this,” said former Mayor Carty Finkbeiner. “We can’t say children are number one in our lives unless we help them get the training and education they need.
“This is about an investment in kids and turning the community in a positive way,” said former Mayor Mike Bell. “This is all about the future – let’s just move forward and get Issue 19 passed.”
“This is about the fact that [TPS] has been good stewards of your money,” added state Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson of the fact that the school district has not sought new money in such a long time.
Issue 19 is a request for a 5.8 mill bond and levy that would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about an additional $70 per year for the next 30 years for the bond and about $133 for the levy for the next five years.
Two mills would allow for a $99 million bond fund, half of which will go to develop the complex into “Scott Park University.” The other 3.8 mills will be new operational money to raise $10.3 million a year. Toledo has only the seventh highest total millage of the 10 school districts in Lucas County.