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By Katie Byard
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 09:42 p.m. EDT, Jun 15, 2009
Barberton school officials are considering having only two elementary schools in the district.
Declining enrollment is behind the possible scaling back of plans for four elementary schools approved by voters last year.
''We've lost 275 students since the original plan was done'' a few years ago, said Superintendent John C. Hall. The district has about 3,740 students.
Barberton now has five elementary schools.
The voter-approved plan calls for replacing Santrock Elementary and renovating Woodford and Johnson schools. U.L. Light Middle School would be converted into the fourth elementary school.
Memorial and Portage elementary schools would be closed.
If the two-school scenario is adopted, the conversion of U.L. Light into an elementary school would include a large addition. A second elementary would be built on the city's west side at a location yet to be decided. All the other elementary schools would be closed.
Officials said cutting back to two elementary schools would save the district about $500,000 a year in operating costs — money that would be spent to expand academic offerings and increase bus transportation.
''We must be as fiscally responsible to our taxpayers as we possibly can be,'' Hall said.
He said school board members, employee unions and district administrators are on board with the two-school idea. Now the district wants to know what the community thinks.
The public can weigh in at a meeting to be hosted by Mayor Bob Genet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the YMCA Senior Center, 500 W. Hopocan Ave.
Fewer elementary schools would not reduce the cost of the $76 million construction project approved by voters last spring.
That's because the state mandates that the district allocate a certain amount of space per student, district Treasurer Ryan Pendleton said.
Voters last year approved a bond issue that will pay for about 40 percent of the construction costs, with the state paying the rest.
This spring, the Ohio School Facilities Commission notified district officials that they must scale back the building plan because of declining enrollment.
Ohio will not fund a school with a projected enrollment of fewer than 350 students.
Declining enrollment has forced other districts — including Akron — to scale back building plans that receive state funding.
Much of the $500,000 in savings would come from needing fewer teachers and administrators, Barberton district officials said.
The district would reduce the number of teachers through attrition — retirements and resignations — not layoffs, Hall said.
About 10 employees resign or retire from the district each year, Pendleton said.
Hall envisions using some of the savings for additional elementary programs, such as foreign language and technology, as well as fully staffing elementary school libraries.
Already, the district has taken steps to cut back amid the weak economy, Pendleton and Hall said.
The district did not seek to renew an 8.7-mill levy last year. That resulted in a $700,000 budget cut.
''The board is sensitive to levy fatigue as it relates to school funding,'' Pendleton said.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.
Barberton school officials are considering having only two elementary schools in the district.
Declining enrollment is behind the possible scaling back of plans for four elementary schools approved by voters last year.
''We've lost 275 students since the original plan was done'' a few years ago, said Superintendent John C. Hall. The district has about 3,740 students.
Barberton now has five elementary schools.
The voter-approved plan calls for replacing Santrock Elementary and renovating Woodford and Johnson schools. U.L. Light Middle School would be converted into the fourth elementary school.
Memorial and Portage elementary schools would be closed.
If the two-school scenario is adopted, the conversion of U.L. Light into an elementary school would include a large addition. A second elementary would be built on the city's west side at a location yet to be decided. All the other elementary schools would be closed.
Officials said cutting back to two elementary schools would save the district about $500,000 a year in operating costs — money that would be spent to expand academic offerings and increase bus transportation.
''We must be as fiscally responsible to our taxpayers as we possibly can be,'' Hall said.
He said school board members, employee unions and district administrators are on board with the two-school idea. Now the district wants to know what the community thinks.
The public can weigh in at a meeting to be hosted by Mayor Bob Genet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the YMCA Senior Center, 500 W. Hopocan Ave.
Fewer elementary schools would not reduce the cost of the $76 million construction project approved by voters last spring.
That's because the state mandates that the district allocate a certain amount of space per student, district Treasurer Ryan Pendleton said.
Voters last year approved a bond issue that will pay for about 40 percent of the construction costs, with the state paying the rest.
This spring, the Ohio School Facilities Commission notified district officials that they must scale back the building plan because of declining enrollment.
Ohio will not fund a school with a projected enrollment of fewer than 350 students.
Declining enrollment has forced other districts — including Akron — to scale back building plans that receive state funding.
Much of the $500,000 in savings would come from needing fewer teachers and administrators, Barberton district officials said.
The district would reduce the number of teachers through attrition — retirements and resignations — not layoffs, Hall said.
About 10 employees resign or retire from the district each year, Pendleton said.
Hall envisions using some of the savings for additional elementary programs, such as foreign language and technology, as well as fully staffing elementary school libraries.
Already, the district has taken steps to cut back amid the weak economy, Pendleton and Hall said.
The district did not seek to renew an 8.7-mill levy last year. That resulted in a $700,000 budget cut.
''The board is sensitive to levy fatigue as it relates to school funding,'' Pendleton said.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Canton, OH
Posted 11:04 PM, 06/15/2009
" 1,2,3,4, who are we for. . .Magics, that's us ". . .
Akron, oh
Posted 12:41 AM, 06/16/2009
Where would they build on the West side?
Norton, Oh
Posted 07:13 AM, 06/16/2009
better question MYOB is will they put the same towering fence that now surrounds the projects in Snyder town.....................
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 07:30 AM, 06/16/2009
Downsize the schools to match the decreasing population. What a novel idea.
I admire Barberton's school board for thinking about the future needs of the district unlike my Tallmadge district school board that hasn't a clue how to save the taxpayers money and only want more property tax levy increases all the time.
No to all new school levies - they need to change the way education is handled and paid for in Ohio.
Barberton, Oh
Posted 07:54 AM, 06/16/2009
There's 2 places that come to mind "new school for the west side". 1. Where Highland is now. That is to be tored down after the new middle school is done. But that might not be big enough for a bigger school. 2.You have Highland Field. I wouldn't think they would be that moronic to destroy that. Right next to Highland Feild is ideal for it. Plenty of land for it but they would have to build it up with soil first.
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:47 AM, 06/16/2009
So does that mean they're going to reduce the levy amount that the Barberton dingbats voted for a year or so ago?
Barberton, Oh
Posted 10:53 AM, 06/16/2009
Well, it says "Fewer elementary schools would not reduce the cost of the $76 million construction project approved by voters last spring." I'm not sure if it means what it says.. Being one of those dinbats.
Barberton, Oh
Posted 11:09 AM, 06/16/2009
Prost to the Barberton School Board... What a novel idea - scaling back amid a weaker economy. Even if the two schools to be built are bigger, I see the consolidation as a very positive thing. A combination of services to reduce duplication of services makes perfect sense. Well done Barberton School Board! Decisions like this are what garner support from your constituents.
Posted 11:19 AM, 06/16/2009
Ok, so I voted Yes on the last levy and my property taxes were raised substantially in order to build some new schools. That was all well and good. But now they're going back on the deal? Am I going to get my property tax money back? My house payment just jumped this month because of the levy. I feel like I'm getting scammed here.
Barberton, Oh
Posted 11:25 AM, 06/16/2009
It's always a good thing when you can cut cost and provide more. I think that they should give back some to the people that are paying for thier savings in the first place. Like the adult school program that they cut out a while back. Now if they try to better them selves,they have to travel to Akron. Since they want to switch things around after getting our money,they need to give some back to the people that made it possible in the first place.
Akron, Oh
Posted 11:47 AM, 06/16/2009
John....
You voted for the levy and are complaining about your property taxes going up... that's classic...
Posted 01:30 PM, 06/16/2009
UseCommonSense,
Do you ever use any of the common sense your name implies? My post isn't complaining about property taxes going up, you lunatic. I'm complaining that I was told that by voting Yes on the levy we'd get additional schools. Sure we're getting some new school buildings but they're going to close some older ones, put a bunch of people out of work and cram more students into existing classrooms. That's NOT what I voted for.
Barberton, Oh
Posted 03:04 PM, 06/16/2009
I was waiting to see if someone let UCS know what you meant. The next time I vote on ANY tax increases. If there is not something there that states that it is used for the purpose of the tax only. Or it will be recinded to us. I will vote NO.
NORTON, OH
Posted 04:20 PM, 06/16/2009
DO YOU REALLY THINK THEY WILL GIVE ANY MONEY BACK....LOL...BUT I BET THEY ASK FOR AN OPERATIONS LEVY TO BE PUT ON THE BALLOT IN 2010
Akron, oh
Posted 08:44 PM, 06/16/2009
What about that land where Arnold School used to be?
Akron, Oh
Posted 04:27 AM, 06/17/2009
John...
"Am I going to get my property tax money back? My house payment just jumped this month because of the levy"
It sure sounds to me like you're whining about an increase in property taxes. (And see I didn't even call you a dumb@$$)
