Hurricane Construction Update

If approved, funds generated from the bond issue would be used for Capital Improvement Projects, including to renovate the Brooklyn High School Campus, Auditorium, Brooklyn HS Main Gymnasium, Board of Education Office and Brooklyn Athletic Complex at Hurricane Alley as a part of the Brooklyn City Schools School Improvement Project. 

• Improved Security and Visual Enhancements at Exterior Entrances
• Brooklyn Athletic Complex Enhanced Recreational and Competition Areas at Hurricane Alley
• Community Walking Path at Hurricane Alley
• Band and Choir Wing Renovation at Brooklyn HS Campus
• Energy Efficient Initiatives - Window Replacement at Brooklyn HS Campus & Board Office
• Renovation of Brooklyn HS Campus Science Labs
• Renovation of Auditorium
• Renovation of Restrooms at Brooklyn High School Campus
• Various Common Area Interior Improvements at Brooklyn High School Campus
• Main Gymnasium Renovations at Brooklyn High School Campus
• Renovations Associated with Converting the Existing Brooklyn Library to a District Facility

• Cost annually for a $100,000 home - $104/year
• Cost annually for a $125,000 home - $130/year
• Cost annually for a $150,000 home - $156/year
• Cost annually for a $200,000 home - $208/year
• Overall cost of the Bond is $20,000,000 - equivalent to 2.96 mills
• Estimated costs are based on assessed value for tax year 2022 certified by the State of Ohio; Assessed value is 35% of the Market Value.

 Based on information obtained from the Cuyahoga County Auditor’s website, homeowners can calculate the estimated impact the proposed bond issue would have on an individual basis. Other resources, like Zillow, Trulia, etc. cannot be used to determine the value of your home for tax purposes, as the Cuyahoga County Auditor’s value is what taxes are based on and is the only value certified by the State of Ohio.

Estimated Average Cost to Brooklyn Homeowners
 

Mill is not an abbreviation for million. The property tax rate is measured in mills; a "mill" is one tenth of a cent and is used in expressing tax rates on a per-dollar basis. This translates to $1 for each $1,000 of assessed property value.  Property values include residential, commercial and industrial values. As noted above, "assessed" property value is 35% of the auditor's fair market valuation.  

No.  While the School District has the ability to propose a variety of different types of tax levies for different purposes, not all taxes stemming from levies and bond issues increase with increases in tax valuation. The proposed bond issue is for $20,000,000. As a result, if approved and property values increase, less millage would be collected to meet that amount.

 Current Funding Sources

Note - *Chart reflects the current funding sources approved by voters and the timeline for consideration of renewals 

• No. Bond dollars can only be used for the purpose stated in the Ballot issue considered by voters.  Funds generated by a bond cannot be used toward operating expenses, such as salaries to hire more teachers, administrators or other additional staff. Rather, bond funds are restricted for use on brick-and-mortar projects such as constructing, equipping, maintaining, and furnishing district facilities. That means that any funds generated by the approved bond issue cannot be used to pay for additional teachers or staff.

• Since 20-21, the District has invested over $2.3 million dollars into the infrastructure through Capital Improvement projects and renovations.
• Some Major Capital Improvements Projects since 2020 include:
  • Installation of New Track at Brooklyn Stadium
  • Furniture (classroom & common areas) Replacement
  • Asphalt & Concrete Repair throughout the Campus
  • Upgrade of the Fire Alarm System (BHS)
  • Roof Maintenance & Repair throughout the District
  • Security Enhancements & Upgrades throughout the District
  • Interior/Exterior Improvements (fencing, carpeting, painting, flooring, etc.)
  • Replacement of HVAC Controller System (District)
  • Purchase of multiple transportation vehicles to modernize our transportation fleet

• If the bond issue is not approved, the district will still need to fund repairs and maintenance to our aging facilities.  Because the district does not currently have a Permanent Improvement (PI) levy to address routine maintenance/repairs each year, any major capital improvement projects and repairs are performed through the District’s annual budgeting process. We do not have enough general fund dollars to accommodate the amount of expenditures needed to upgrade our facilities, so the district will have to determine how to best approach the facility needs.  The most critical capital replacement needs would still have to be addressed.  To pay for those needs, more funds would need to be expended from the day-to-day operating budget, which otherwise would be used to support classroom instruction, teachers, staff and supplies.

• Architectural design work on the project will take 9-12 months once funding is available. Once the architectural plans are completed and approved, the actual construction phase will take 24-36 months after the design phase of the project. In total, the complete renovation project (from design to construction) may take up to 4 years.  

There are several reasons why building a new high school was not considered to be the best course of action for our school community:

1. Cost: Based on a 2022 detailed facility assessment completed by AVG Architecture, the approximate total cost to renovate the Brooklyn High School Campus, Auditorium, Main Gymnasium and Board Office was approximated at $55,662.274.42, with updates and renovation costs for the Hurricane Alley Stadium Complex estimated at $18,242,400.12. AVG Architecture estimated the cost to construct a new 8-12 High School, Auditorium, Main Gymnasium located on the Biddulph Road property at $77,574,024.93.
2.  Constructing: A new high school can be a significant financial burden. The costs include not only the construction itself but ongoing maintenance, utilities, and staffing. This can lead to increased funding needs or the need to divert funds from other essential services.
3. Existing Infrastructure: Renovating or expanding existing high schools can be a more cost-effective solution than building a new one from scratch. This approach can preserve the historical and community value of older schools. 
4. Long-Term Planning: A better approach might be to focus on long-term educational strategies, such as curriculum improvements, teacher training, and technology integration, rather than simply expanding infrastructure.
5. Community Impact: Construction can disrupt neighborhoods, create traffic congestion, and have other negative effects on the local community. Weighing these impacts is essential.

Yes. The District and City have an ongoing partnership that allows each entity to access our facilities for student and community use throughout the year. The District will continue to partner with the City of Brooklyn and community groups to access and use our school facilities. This includes the use of fields and gymnasiums, as well as the new and current common spaces. 

Modern facilities design naturally limits public access to buildings in a way that our current entrances do not because they were built in a different era. 

There may be some impact to traffic/fields/classrooms/common spaces at the sites of the construction, but we will work with the school community to address any of these temporary issues. 

• Brooklyn High School was built in 1957 (190,000 square feet)
• Auditorium was constructed in 1955.
• Brooklyn Stadium was built in 1966 (4,200 square feet).
• Brooklyn School (PK-7) Complex opened in 2015.

You can send an email to: askdrcaleris@bcshurricanes.org and your question will be addressed directly by Dr. Caleris, Superintendent of Schools.