By RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY
PDT Staff Writer

A parade marched through the Village of New Boston on Saturday, promoting the New Boston Local School District's new building project levy proposed on Tuesday's ballot. The parade featured students, alumni, school faculty and staff, village police and fire, and others; beginning at Vinyl Kraft on Rhodes Avenue and ending at the New Boston Little League Park.

"The parade is specifically for the bond campaign," said New Boston Superintendent Mike Staggs. "The entire purpose of the parade is to raise the excitement level for the new facilities."

If passed, the proposed 7.61-mill levy on Tuesday's ballot will be used to raise about $3 million to build a new nearly $20 million K-12 facility. The remaining cost will be covered by the state of Ohio. Last week the school purchased the land, located on Lakeview Avenue where Sun and Funland Pool sits now, for $24,576.97.

"Many of us 'lived' at the pool during the summers while growing up. This property can now provide that nurturing environment year-round and become the focal point of our community," Staggs said.

The building project has already been endorsed by the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA), New Boston Village Council, the Portsmouth Daily Times, and the Community Common.

The OSBA said the new facility would offer handicap accessibility, larger classrooms, advanced safety and security measures, improved lighting, energy-efficient heating and cooling, improved fresh-air ventilation for a healthier learning environment and up-to-date technology.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said New Boston Mayor James Warren. "As you can see in the community, we've had many changes, and I think this will be a change that will continue to enhance and help show the growth happening within New Boston."

To see exactly what this levy will cost individuals, New Boston property owners can look-up their property on the Scioto County Auditor's Web site --