2008 Woodie Awards
School districts struggle in land dispute
Meaghan McAvoy
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Community
The two-year-long legal battle between the Middletown and Franklin school districts over a 1,600 acre piece of land may soon be resolved.
Middletown City Schools has until May 14 to file its argument for an appeal of the February 2008 State Board of Education decision. In its decision, the board denied transfer of land currently in Franklin City Schools to the Middletown School district. The land falls within both Middletown's city limits and Franklin Twp.
According to Debbie Alberico, Middletown City Schools community relations and communication specialist, the district does not desire to own the land, but merely wants to collect the income tax money from it.
"We feel that if it's in the city of Middletown, that it should go to the school district," Alberico said.
Superintendent of Franklin Schools Douglas J. Lantz said that it is illogical for the Middletown district to annex the land now since city boundaries have remained the same for two decades and the land in question has been a part of Franklin City Schools since the district's creation.
Lantz said it was the construction of the new Atrium Medical Center in the disputed property that spurred the annexation.
"Middletown is only interested now because of the hospital development, which increases commercial development, which increases the tax dollars that come into our school district," Lantz said.
Alberico said that the land, located east of Interstate 75, is currently serving a variety of uses.
"It's all different zoning-some residential, some agricultural, some business," she said.
Lantz said that the residents in this area would not be thrilled with the transfer.
"There was even a petition made by one group of people, as this area is a little bit residential, to stay in Franklin," Lantz said.
He said that income taxes would increase significantly for residents who live in this disputed area because the costs of residence are much higher in Middletown.
Middletown City Schools has until May 14 to file its argument for an appeal of the February 2008 State Board of Education decision. In its decision, the board denied transfer of land currently in Franklin City Schools to the Middletown School district. The land falls within both Middletown's city limits and Franklin Twp.
According to Debbie Alberico, Middletown City Schools community relations and communication specialist, the district does not desire to own the land, but merely wants to collect the income tax money from it.
"We feel that if it's in the city of Middletown, that it should go to the school district," Alberico said.
Superintendent of Franklin Schools Douglas J. Lantz said that it is illogical for the Middletown district to annex the land now since city boundaries have remained the same for two decades and the land in question has been a part of Franklin City Schools since the district's creation.
Lantz said it was the construction of the new Atrium Medical Center in the disputed property that spurred the annexation.
"Middletown is only interested now because of the hospital development, which increases commercial development, which increases the tax dollars that come into our school district," Lantz said.
Alberico said that the land, located east of Interstate 75, is currently serving a variety of uses.
"It's all different zoning-some residential, some agricultural, some business," she said.
Lantz said that the residents in this area would not be thrilled with the transfer.
"There was even a petition made by one group of people, as this area is a little bit residential, to stay in Franklin," Lantz said.
He said that income taxes would increase significantly for residents who live in this disputed area because the costs of residence are much higher in Middletown.
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