Treasurer Jonathan Boyd said at Monday's board meeting that he will determine the amount of funds immediately available as he prepares to issue the bond in increments, to stay faithful to the "no new millage" promise to taxpayers.

Taxpayers currently are paying about $116 per year for every $100,000 in home value under old bond debt, which will be refinanced under the new bond issue, with the debt extended by 15 years.

Boyd said if the new bond is issued in increments to stay within the current taxation rate of 3.8 mills, the average taxpayer will not see an increase in taxes.

Superintendent Melissa Conrath said the transportation department will begin to replace the oldest buses, under the guidance of Transportation Director George Sontag, while directors of technology and facilities begin deliberating computer replacement and repair priorities.

"I know (Facilities Manager) Tim Gehring has already identified several local people who are architects and engineers, or have experience with repairs of facilities in a public sector," Conrath said. "They will form a committee that will meet regularly to determine the most urgent repairs so that they can prepare construction packets and begin asking for bids."

Conrath said bids coming in for repairs costing more than $25,000 must be brought to the board for approval.

Some of the most expensive repairs on a list compiled by Gehring include a roof replacement that will cost $550,000 at Worthington Hills Elementary School; student locker replacement at Kilbourne Middle School, at $300,000; track replacement at Worthingway Middle School, at $276,000; and an overlay of the student parking lot at Thomas Worthington High School for $388,500.

Director of Technology Keith Schlarb said his committee first met last month.

"Our committee consists of 14 people, eight of which are community members who are (information technology)-related of some sort; one is in public relations and we have two students, two teachers and two administrators: Jennifer Wene and Patty Bradley," Schlarb said.

The committee will meet at least quarterly, Schlarb said.

"This may be one of the most difficult processes we've faced in determining what we will replace, because of the complexity of the equipment we currently have and the options available to move toward," Schlarb said. "What we should replace is not completely covered with the amount of money we will get from the bond. I'm not saying that negatively -- it is just how it is. We can't replace everything we'd like to, so we'll have some tough decisions in front of us."

Schlarb said he will start by asking each building to come up with a plan to implement new state technology standards so he can determine the equipment needed at each building.

"People have to understand that we don't know how much money will be available right away, so the improvements and replacements won't happen overnight," Schlarb said. "It will be a three- to five-year process before we get most of it done."