WARREN - The city school board voted Tuesday to purchase the former Trumbull Savings & Loan building at the corner of 105 High St. for $1.4 million to consolidate its administration buildings. It will cost another $100,000 for minor updates and upgrading of the building.

Offices will move from the district's current administration building, 261 Monroe St. N.W. - which likely will be sold - and from the former Warren Western Reserve High School building, 202 Loveless S.W., which likely will be demolished, Superintendent Kathryn Hellweg said.

Buying the building will allow the district to move all of its administration offices to one location. Once completed, more than 100 employees will be working on Courthouse Square in downtown Warren.

The district will make an initial down payment of $625,000 and finance the remaining $875,000.

The district will use part of its permanent improvement fund already set aside for the down payment.

The remaining money for the purchase will be paid over 10 years with money from the half percent bond passed at the same time that the Ohio School Facilities Commission bond was approved by voters to build all new schools in the district.

No general fund money will be used for the purchase, the board said.

Hellweg told the board that it looked at several options for the district's administration building, including renovating a wing of Western Reserve and maintaining the Monroe Street building.

However, that would have cost $2.3 million, plus that cost of heating and cooling the Monroe Street building. Renovating other now-empty school buildings would have cost even more, she said.

Building new would cost an estimated cost of $4.6 million, she said.

The old savings and loan building seemed the best option by far, she indicated.

"I dreamed of being able to go into this building more than three years ago," Hellweg said. "We made some inquires, but at the time, the cost for purchasing it was out of any school district price range."

Nearly three years later, with falling market prices, the district revisited the idea.

"While the move will be made in stages, we hope to be completely moved into the new administration building by April," Hellweg said. "In May and June, we want to completely concentrate on moving into the new McGuffey and Jefferson K-8 buildings."

The centralized administration office will provide a one-stop location for parents, businesses and community organizations the district works with on a daily basis, she said.

Board member Patti Limperos said she could not be prouder of a school district decision.

"It is a great opportunity for the growth and revitalization of the the downtown area," she said. "This sends a strong message to the (Youngstown/Warren Regional) Chamber, which is always looking at consolidation."

Board member Ed Bolino said, "There are a lot of school districts that would like to do this kind of consolidation, but they do not have the funds to do it."

Warren Mayor Michael O'Brien said the school district decision will play a large role in the revitalization of the downtown area.

"This is consistent with our comprehensive plan to have government and finance in the downtown area," he said. "Moving more than 100 people into the area will play a significant role in the economic health of the downtown area."

With the decision to purchase the former bank building, Hellweg said the district likely would demolish Alden, Devon, Emerson, Horace Mann and Seacrest along with Warren Western Reserve.

Other school buildings and properties likely will be sold.

rsmith@tribtoday.com