By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

GLENDALE - New and renovated schools could be on the drawing board, but first, the Princeton City Schools district wants to find out what the public thinks.

The first in a series of "listening sessions" will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Sharonville Community Center, 10990 Thornview Dr.

LISTENING SESSIONS

All sessions are at 7 p.m. • Tuesday: Sharonville Community Center • Oct. 21: Smith Flowers Center, Lincoln Heights • Oct. 23: Glendale Town Hall • Oct. 24: Evendale Community Center • Oct. 28: Springdale Community Center • Oct. 29: Heritage Hill Elementary • Oct. 30: Woodlawn Council Chambers • Nov. 4: Stewart Elementary   Information: Catherine Raabe, 772-4676

The Ohio School Facilities Commission has recommended that nine of Princeton's 11 buildings be abandoned because it's not cost-effective to repair them. The district, however, is not required to accept the state recommendations.

"The people of Princeton will determine what will happen here," said Don Darby, superintendent of the 6,100-student district.

Princeton, however, has to address its aging buildings, he said.

Princeton's dilemma is to persuade people that new and renovated schools are needed. "We're a victim of our own good maintenance," said board President George Keyser.

Among the issues that need to be addressed are sprinklers, air conditioning, electrical wiring, plumbing, handicapped accessibility and small classroom size.

Commission guidelines recommend abandoning school buildings if the cost to repair and renovate them reaches or exceeds two-thirds of the cost of a new building. Only Robert E. Lucas Intermediate School and Princeton Junior High fall under the two-thirds cost.

Because Princeton is a property-rich district it wouldn't become eligible for commission money until 2012, said Princeton Treasurer Larry McDonough. Even so, the state would only pay 5 percent - or $6 million - of an estimated $120 million to replace nine buildings and renovate two - one of the commission scenarios.

The board is expected to adopt a plan in January. The district's timeline is to present a bond issue, tentatively in May.

As expected, there are strong attachments to some buildings, such as Glendale Elementary, built in 1900. Many of the people who spoke at a recent Glendale PTA meeting favored renovating the building because they feel it's part of Glendale's history, said Sheila Warman, mother of a second-grader.

"If they can spend $6 million building a new (school building), they could spend $6 million renovating one that's beautiful," she said

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com