Construction of a new $32 million, 1,200 student middle school in Avon inches closer to fruition,.

But a few key pieces must fall into place before ground can be broken in early 2012, Superintendent Jim Reitenbach said at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting. 

After the district receives millage certification from the Lorain County Auditor’s office, the school board will vote in July on whether or not to put the 2.245-mill levy on the November ballot, treasurer Kent Zeman said. 

If Avon voters pass the levy this fall, it is estimated to cost homeowners about $68 a year for every $100,000 in home value.  The $32 million would be paid off over the next 32 years. 

The eight-figure price tag is based on preliminary designs involving the number of classrooms, total square footage and meeting building codes, board member Scott Radcliffe said. 

The school would be built on property the school owns on Long Road.

If construction begins in 2012, the project would take about 30 months to design and build. The school would open for the 2014-15 school year.

Over the next several months, the board will hold meetings with architects, contractors and the Building and Infrastructure subcommittee established under the district’s Continuous Improvement Plan to draw up and finalize the design plans.  

School officials opted to build a new school versus renovating the old Avon Middle School because architects and consultants had determined that it would cost more than $20 million to renovate the 60-year-old structure, Reitenbach said. 

“I think a new middle school would be a wonderful thing,” Radcliffe said. “The current school is crowded and outdated and it would help enhance the learning experience for the kids and really help propel their education.”