ENGLEWOOD — Area voters will be asked to support a bond issue for the Miami Valley Career Technology Center in Tuesday’s special election.

MVCTC Superintendent Nick Weldy recently explained the schools’s need:

“The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) is a much needed asset for Preble County and for the Miami Valley. Each year, thousands of high school and adult students depend on MVCTC to provide them with career training and education to compete for the jobs of today and of the future. In providing training to so many students and workers, MVCTC is strengthening our local economy,” Weldy said.

“To protect career training and education in the region, MVCTC has a bond issue on the May 2, ballot to remodel and expand the current campus. The safety of students and staff is our foremost concern. The MVCTC is eligible to receive approximately 47 percent funding from the State of Ohio for the remodeling and construction of co-fundable items such as safety upgrades, secure entrances, career-technical labs, academic classrooms, parking areas, and other shared spaces in the school. These changes will allow MVCTC to provide a safe and secure campus where both high school and adult students have equal access to high-quality facilities and training equipment that our area employers require.

In addition, part of the bond will allow MVCTC to expand their significantly undersized facilities and accept more of the 200-300 students that are turned away each year due to space constraints.

To be eligible to receive 47 percent co-funding from the State of Ohio, the MVCTC is asking for minimal local support equal to 1.43 mills, or approximately $4.17 per month on a $100,000 assessed-value home. After 10 years, this amount will drop to 1.09 mills, or approximately $3.18 per month on a $100,000 assessed-value home

MVCTC facilities are approaching 50-years in age and the maintenance and upkeep of the aging building and utility infrastructure are taking valuable dollars out of the classrooms and laboratories. The MVCTC has not requested any specific facility money since the district was built in 1968-1970.”