Officials from Union County and Dublin City Schools gathered on Apr. 12 to break ground on a new elementary school located in Jerome Village. Pictured from left: Rep. Tracy Richardson; Union County Commissioner Chris Schmenk; Katy O’Neal, levy committee; Deb Papesh, levy committee; Beca Mayr, levy committee; Todd Hoadley, Dublin City Schools superintendent; Brad Ellis, COO of Nationwide Realty; Scott Melody, Dublin Board of Education president; Rick Weininger, board member; Lynn May, board vice president; Chris Valentine, board member and Brian Kern, CFO/Treasurer of Dublin City Schools.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Michael Williamson)
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The first of three schools in the Dublin City School District has broken ground in Jerome Village.
Officials from both Union County and the Dublin board of education came together Apr. 12 to break ground on a new elementary in the community just north of Plain City. The yet unnamed Elementary 14, located in Jerome Township, will be on a 43-acre plot of land located east of U.S. 42 on Ravenhill Parkway near Hyland-Croy Road.
“With the growth happening, this school is something we’ll really need,” said Jerome Township Trustee Ron Rhodes. “We’re anticipating these changes and trying to get ahead of them.”
Land for the school was donated by Nationwide Realty Investments of Columbus and funding will come from a combined $195 million bond issue, 2 mill permanent-improvements levy and 5.9 mill operating levy which were passed in November. The combined cost for both planned elementary schools is $47.4 million. The district also plans to build a middle school next year.
“Having good schools and a good education is vital to the success of the community,” said Union County Commissioner Chris Schmenk. “We’re glad to see this project come to fruition.”
Schmenk mentioned the county is the fastest growing in the state and part of the reason for the growth are the opportunities available for families.
“We know the quality of good education is part of why people keep moving in. We embrace the challenges and the opportunities that come with this growth,” she said.
The school board plans to hear name suggestions for the building and make a recommendation next month. The district is aiming for an opening in the fall of 2020.