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Do IT this week: Layering
Green and Tallmadge systems seek money for operations
By Katie Byard
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, Oct 18, 2009
In Norton, the city school district is proposing a $61 million project that would move its high school and stadium from the town center, at Greenwich and Cleveland-Massillon roads, to a site two miles west.
Manchester's $46.3 million project: two new schools — a combined high school-middle school for grades seven through 12 and an elementary school.
Other area districts, including Crestwood in Portage County and Triway in Wayne County, also have bond issues on the ballot. Crestwood's issue is for construction of a new high school and Triway's issue is for a new high school-middle school complex.
Sixteen other area districts have tax issues on the ballot.
Eight districts are seeking additional tax money for operating expenses and eight have renewal levies, which would not increase taxes, on the ballot.
Manchester Superintendent Sam Reynolds pointed out that state and federal money will help foot the bill for the Summit County projects.
''It would be a real shame if voters miss this opportunity,'' he said. ''This is the only time in my career that both the state and federal government have come together to assist the community in rebuilding its schools.''
Manchester is asking for 6.98 mills for buildings and 0.5 mill for required permanent improvements. The annual cost to the owner of a $100,000 home would be $229.
Voters rejected a similar proposal in May. Reynolds said this time the millage is lower because of the federal stimulus money. He said the
cost to property owners could be less — depending on how much stimulus money is available.
The state would pay $19.7 million — enough to pay the cost of one of the two new buildings.
Reynolds said the theme for the election campaign is ''Two for one.''
He said the voters' choice boils down to whether they want new buildings or to ''be nickel and dimed to death'' for repairs and upkeep, estimated to cost $27 million over several years.
The new school for grades 7-12 would be built north of the existing high school, on district-owned property off Nimisila Road. It would replace the nearby high school, which would be torn down, and the middle school, which would become a community center/administration building.
The YMCA has signed a letter of intent to offer programs at the community center.
The new elementary building also would be constructed on district land off Nimisila Road.
The state would pay the cost of demolishing Nolley Elementary on Renninger Road as well as the high school and the administration building.
The Norton district also would receive federal stimulus money — if voters approve a bond issue.
Norton's 6.98-mill issue on the November ballot would help pay for construction of a new campus — a combined middle and high school and an elementary school — on vacant property southeast of Greenwich and Medina Line roads.
Among the Summit County districts seeking money for operations, the stakes are especially high in Green and Tallmadge.
November is the only chance voters in Green will have to renew a 5.8-mill, five-year levy before it expires this year. The levy raises about $4.1 million a year — about 8.5 percent of the district's annual operating budget.
Tallmadge is trying for the sixth time in two years to pass an additional levy. The proposed 6.9-mill, five-year tax would raise about $2.87 million annually.
The district has made $2.5 million in cuts over the past two years, including 55 layoffs.
City officials are heavily involved in promoting the levy, with Tallmadge Mayor Chris Grimm serving as campaign co-chair.
''They realize it's a community issue,'' said schools Treasurer Jeff Hostetler.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 09:50 AM, 10/18/2009
pass issue 3 and you shouldn't see anymore school tax issues on ballots,,,
Dade City, Fl
Posted 10:33 AM, 10/18/2009
Oh, what an opportunity to miss...being taxed again. Who would want to miss out on that. A great way fro more citizens to be one step closer to homelessness.
Stow, OH
Posted 11:08 AM, 10/18/2009
To don: I hope that you are right but have great doubts. I recall the same kind of claims being made when the Ohio Lottery was begun. My doubt also comes from looking at school districts in which gambling is legal. The following will take you to a November 2008 article from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The article is about a public meeting dealing with school funding. If I did not know it was in Las Vegas, I would have thought it was occurring around here. I wonder what is happening in other school districts whre gambling is legal?
http://www.lvrj.com/news/34731319.html
AKRON, ohio
Posted 12:07 PM, 10/18/2009
I just say no to school levies.
akron, oh
Posted 12:10 PM, 10/18/2009
We wouldn't need levies for the schools if we didn't build them in swamps...
Munroe Falls, Oh
Posted 02:16 PM, 10/18/2009
We passed the lottery while Gilligan was Governor and was promised no more levies ever again. Guess what? MORE LEVIES!
Tallmadge, oh
Posted 02:49 PM, 10/18/2009
I'm dismayed but not surprised by some of the responses both here an in general to proposed school levies. Looking at individual school, their needs, their prformance, history and use of funds is the way to make a decision, not knee-jerk negativity.
But the constant "poor mouth" response gets old. Mars Bonfire's comment, "A great way for more citizens to be one step closer to homelessness" is exemplary. If one is living so close to the edge, another $25 - 30/month in school tax will not make one homeless. This kind of thinking is typical of America these days, no delayed gratification, just grab mine.
I have to wait just as long for a table today as I did 3 years ago when I go out to eat. I watch "poor" people able to afford luxuries that were unheard of 20 years ago (cell phones, manicures, newer cars and designer clothing), never thinking that perhaps that extra $20 or $30 ought to be put away for a rainy day.
We do the same thing in refusing to pass a school levy on "general principle" without evaluating the need - saved a few pennies for luxuries today at the cost of plummeting property values tomorrow.
When your home is worth $50,000 less ten years from now than it is today, I guess that $30/month will seem more affordable. Hindsight is always 20/20.
Posted 05:04 PM, 10/18/2009
Issue 3 will not bring any money to schools. Probably spend all the money it brings in dealing with the bankruptcy, divorce, robbery, prostitution and child neglect that casino gambling brings.
Live in the burbs and work in Akron. You get to pay for two school systems. There's no solution coming from Columbus. Support the kids in your neighborhood. Don't put them in middle because they have no voice
Orrville, Oh
Posted 05:23 PM, 10/18/2009
Placing tax issues on the November 3 ballot; don’t enable; Fathers disqualified for affirmative action with white skin, Union workers, consumers, taxpayers, and Americas grandchildren’s children; to fund all stimulus packages, property tax abatement, tax incentives, tax credit, tax refunds, tax exemptions. And pay for the more stock dividends (money). Hillarys, Chinese, Foreign and Domestic Investors and Stockholders (money marketers) market quarterly; in the wholesale and retail price; of EVERY product and service Human Beings use for life. And Government needs to build, maintain, and operate schools; infrastructure; and provide government services; and national security. That gets only product or service.
And fund; unemployed workers, casino, lottery, and keno losers, aliens, waitresses that pander for life for $2.00 per hour; insubordinate, low-income; defiant of realities demands; volunteers without wages; nonunion parasites willing to work for fewer wages than they can afford life; and righteous; with a faith-based belief; that it’s a sin; to engage in free, fair, and affordable commerce; or get an agreement (union contract); With a corporation, business, or nonprofit, tax-exempt, organization, or Church; Agreeing to comply with demands; Of natural law (what Mother Nature, God, or Whatever Power decreed to be the reality of the real world), God, democracy, capitalism, the US Constitution, and free, fair, and affordable commerce.
Paying for the more stock dividends; Hillarys, Chinese, Foreign and Domestic Investors and Stockholders; market quarterly.
Pay with welfare checks, food stamps, housing vouchers, and Medicaid.
With money derived from wages or independent business profit.
This defiance of realities demands; is needed; to measure and maintain; the strength and growth of this UNAFFORDABLE economy; and distribute wealth; into Hillarys, Chinese, Foreign and Domestic Investors portfolios!
Akron, OH
Posted 07:15 PM, 10/18/2009
Hey Katie Byard,
"20 area districts place tax issues on Nov. 3 ballot"
I counted less than 10 that were discussed in your article. What about the others?
Akron, OH
Posted 07:59 PM, 10/18/2009
@don, huh? I do not think there is anything in issue 3 that has anything to do with school funding.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:23 PM, 10/18/2009
I posted this last summer, but a trip down memory lane is in order....
It's worth taking a look at their latest State audit @ http://www.auditor.state.oh.us/AuditSearch/Reports/2009/Tallmadge_City_School_District_08-Summit.pdf.
Some highlights:
From 2007 to 2008, revenue decreased 0.9%.
From 2007 to 2008, expenses increased 5.5%.
Expenses are broken down into two reporting groups, Instruction and Support Services:
Instruction (teacher compensation) increased 7.9%.
Support Services increased 2.2%.
Headcount and roll:
Support Employees: 142 (19:1 student:emp ratio)
Teachers: 212 (13:1 student:teacher ratio)
Students: 2,659
2008 Instructor Expenses: 17,608,550
Avg Expense Per Instructor: 83,059
_________________________
"Certified Employees" includes teachers and administrators. Some districts broke out the administrator portion while some did not. I included the total number for all districts in order to get comparable ratios.
Students......"Certified Employees"....... Ratio:
Stow: 5,617.....379......14.8
Green: 4,072....309....13.2
Nordonia: 4,020....305....13.2
Tallmadge: 2,659....212....12.5
Cuy Falls: 4,907...403....12.2
Woodridge: 1,905....159....12.0
Hudson: 4,983....425....11.7
Akron: 24,888....2,115....11.8
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 09:30 PM, 10/18/2009
@Franco, Bravo. Could not have put it any better. I had once posted that between all the taxes I pay it comes to about 35% or more of my income. Someone asked if I lived in Norway. If people really paid attention to where their money is going they would be shocked. I work in Akron and live in another district. I also pay to two school districts and have to question whether or not that extra .25% taken out of my paycheck shouldn't go to the district I live. After all, it is a school tax.
Posted 07:09 AM, 10/19/2009
Government passed laws to send our manufacturing jobs off shore causing many of us to loose good paying manufacturing jobs. Now that unemployment is at record highs the same government wants MORE TAXES.
We need JOB PROTECTION from the government not making it a plus for companies to send our work off shore.
We need to vote NO on all tax increases until this starts taking care of us before other countries. The bail out of the auto industry shuttered Twinsburg Chrysler plant but helped Mexico and Canada. Enough is enough, help us by keeping good paying manufacturing jobs in the USA.
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:02 AM, 10/19/2009
Time to combine school districts and develop a new funding source as mandated by the State Supreme Court (it is time they throw some lawmakers into jail for not )a decade ago...
Tallmadge, OHIO
Posted 11:10 AM, 10/19/2009
Just keep in mind that these kids whose educations you are willing to underfund will be the same ones wiping your whatever in that home you end up in because all your kids moved away for "better opportunities".
You raised 'em just right - just like you ...
Rittman, Oh
Posted 11:23 AM, 10/19/2009
Rittman and Orrville schools are operated independantly under one superintendant. It would have abeen a great savings had they not invented a new job, and rehired the old superintendant (and staff person)under a new title. When asked if the new superindant would have to work longer hours to handle two school districts, the answer was "no". If anything, this proved that the position of School Superintendant in most small town schools is really a part-time job filled by a greatly overpaid full time person. A school system's actual first priority is to employ people in government jobs. If your kids happen to get an education, that is secondary icing on the cake.
Canton, OH
Posted 12:46 PM, 10/19/2009
I have a question - i heard on a radio talk show (and i don't agree with or trust everything the host says) that school districts that say they will cut bussing if the levy fails are being fraudulent in doing so - his reasoning being the state pays for bussing so the schools are getting that money regardless - if they cut bussing that money is getting spent somewhere else where it is not allocated for.
I am just curious to the truth of that because i know districts that have cut bussing and districts that are saying they will cut bussing. ??
Posted 09:57 AM, 10/22/2009
@Paul: The chart that accompanied the story detailed all 20 issues. It appears the chart did not make in online. I will seek to remedy that.
