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Voters say "yes" to Canal Winchester school levy
(by Linda Dillman, staff writer - May 06, 2009)
Sleep was sweet for Canal Winchester School District administrators, staff members, and campaign workers after receiving word their efforts to pass a two year, 14.82-mill operating levy worked.
After four failed attempts across three years, voters finally said "yes" to a ballot issue raising $6.4 million for the school system, which has not seen new operating money since 2001 and was in danger of state takeover. With all precincts in Franklin and Fairfield Counties reporting, unofficial results show 2,415 for the levy and 2,211 against, a margin of 52 to 48 percent.
"It's a good thing," commented Board President Stan Smith on May 6. "The whole district is pleased the voters agreed with us that we need new money. It allows us to put our focus back where it belongs, on getting the job done for the kids. This levy has taken so much time and energy from our parents and staff. We're still running an ultra-conservative budget, though, and will continue to do so. This levy will give us time to figure out what's going to happen within the next two years and we hope to be able to replace it with lower amount in the future."
The district slashed over $5 million from its operations budget in the last three years and faced another $2.4 million in cuts next fiscal year if voters did not approve the levy. Starting in January 2010, homeowners will pay $453.86 in additional taxes per $100,000 of valuation.
Administrators and board members met on March 23 to discuss a financial recovery plan-including reinstatement of nearly two dozen certified staff with passage of the levy and cost reductions by dropping a contract with the Central Ohio Educational Service Center for special education personnel in creating a district-run program.
"Those teachers will not be laid off," Smith said, "and we will reinstate high school busing. There are things you will always have to tweak because of unforeseen circumstances, such as unexpected jumps in enrollment, but we just pray the legislature doesn't drop any more unfunded mandates on us."
Included in the list of reinstatements are continuation of the district's plan to provide special education services in-house, building maintenance, field trips, and textbook rotation. Although $100,000 less than previous budgets, the plan also proposes restoring $200,000 in textbook purchases for grades K-12, which will complete the remainder of a Social Studies adoption cycle. The regular textbook rotation program will pick up the following year.
Had the levy not passed, the school board was ready to implement a $535 pay to participate fee to cover $320,000 the district normally budgets out of the general fund for programs such as athletics, band, cheerleading, and academic team. Participants will now continue to pay $140 per activity.
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