CANFIELD — The Canfield Board of Education hosted a recent special work session to discuss facilities, a possible path moving forward and tax-levy attempts.

Superintendent Joe Knoll showed a slide presentation of the last three levy tries. It started with the May 3, 2022, attempt at a 6.9-mill bond levy that would have brought in $107.8 million to build a new PK-8 school on Red Gate Farm property, demolish the middle school and do some renovations at the high school. Voters turned it down with 72% saying no.

The following year, a 7.5-mill bond levy that would have brought in $104.9 million for a new K-4 school on Hilltop property, remodeling of the existing school into the administrative offices, a new middle school at the Canfield Village Middle School site and demolition of the old middle school failed with 60% saying no.

Knoll said the most recent attempt was Nov. 5, 2024, when 55% of voters said no to a 3.7-mill bond levy that would have brought in $64.1 million for a new grades 5-8 middle school, an additional gymnasium, demolition of the old middle school and renovations at the high school.

“We are getting closer,” Knoll said.

Knoll then gave a presentation on the district’s existing levies. The first is an emergency levy first passed in May 1986 at 6.5 mills that was last renewed in November 2020 for 10 years. It collects at 1.3 mills and will be on the ballot again in 2030. An operating expenses levy that was first passed in November 2013 at 5.9 mills collects at 4.82 mills and will be on the November 2027 ballot.

The last levy the district has on the books is a permanent improvement levy that was passed in 2009 as a 1-mill continuous levy.

“It brings in $630,000 a year,” Knoll said. “It can only be used for permanent improvement items (building improvements and upgrades, buses and site improvements). It cannot be used for daily operation expenses.”

Knoll said the PI funds, along with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds — given out during the COVID-19 pandemic — and general fund money, has enabled the district to handle some big jobs. Examples included secure vestibules, roof repairs at CVMS and the high school, and a $1.1 million paving project at the high school.

Knoll said over the past five years, the district has shelled out nearly $5 million in roof work and other projects, including the high school and C.H. Campbell HVAC projects, fire panels required at C.H. and Hilltop so the schools could open for students, and safety upgrades. On top of that are emergency breakdowns, roof leaks and other items that have to be fixed immediately.

“I have been the treasurer’s worst nightmare for over five years,” Knoll said.

Knoll said the district still has to deal with an aging middle school building.

Knoll closed the slide presentation with options the board needs to consider. He said Option 1 would be an additional permanent improvements levy that could be placed on the ballot as early as November for five years. That option would help with permanent improvements to the aging middle school.

“Roofs would be the No. 1 item on the list,” Knoll said. “I just hope people in Canfield don’t start thinking the problems will just go away.”

The second option would be a bond issue that would take time to put together. It would require an Expedited Local Partnership Program application and would have a local share of 83%.

Board member Betsy Ahlquist said, “From the previous levy, it seemed everything in ELPP is inflated to what people saw. By applying for ELPP are we on the hook?”

Knoll said districts can go through the whole process, then choose not to use the program. He said a district could use a general contractor and do the entire project of building a new school with 100% of the funding coming from the levy. Ahlquist said she felt the district may save money by not using the ELPP, so Knoll said he would do some research into districts that went that route.

The board and the 10 people in attendance seemed to all be on board for having a bond levy for a new middle school. The problem the board members see coming is getting the word out and trying to discover what voters will support.

Board member Jill DeRamo said, “We need to put a survey out and see what the voters will support. I can’t move forward until I know that. I don’t want to put anything out there without knowing what they will support.”

Knoll chimed in about what the board and school administrators can and cannot do. He said the Ohio attorney general ruled about three years ago that districts cannot spend public money on surveys. Knoll said a levy committee of residents could raise funds and send out a survey as long as they are not part of the district.

The potential abolition of property taxes in Ohio also was discussed.

“If the elimination of property-tax issue passes in November, then it is a whole new conversation,” Knoll said. “The other way to fund the district is by income tax.”

Board President Steve DeMaiolo said, “Our only shot is to educate the public as best we can. If people are informed, I think they will support a levy.”

No action was taken at the meeting, and Knoll said he will try to get more information on a few requested topics.