Following a year of major reductions in staffing, increases in pay-to-participate, and reductions in services the Medina City School’s Board of Education voted at its regular monthly board meeting on July 19, 2010 to place a 5-year Emergency Levy on the November 2, 2010 ballot.

School board president Mark Dolan explained that the Board of Education has had many in-depth conversations at its monthly work sessions regarding the course to take knowing that the district is facing a budget deficit of close to $3.6 million dollars in 2011. The Board discussed various options such as a continuous operating levy, an income tax, and an emergency levy.

Dolan stated that the issue with an income tax is that the district would not fully collect the funds generated for 18 months. Recognizing the district’s current financial situation this would not provide the necessary funds that are needed immediately. However, the Board will continue discussions regarding an income tax for the future when the district’s finances are sound.

The Board discussed the pros and cons of a continuous operating levy and an emergency levy prior to their vote. The major differences between the two are that an emergency levy is for a fixed amount of money and for a finite period of time; while a continuous operating levy collects some additional revenue on new construction where an emergency levy does not. The school district treasurer stated that the county auditor’s office suggested that the district plan on zero dollars for new construction for 2011 and a minimal amount for 2012 and 2013.

Dolan said “The emergency levy tells our community that we are asking for money for a finite period of time, a period of time that our entire community can assess how we are performing as a district and how we are addressing issues of concern.”

The 5-year emergency levy would collect approximately $7 million dollars each of the five years. The cost to a homeowner for every $100,000 home value would be $180 per year.

The Board of Education has stated that with the passage of the Emergency Levy the district will reinstate transportation services to their previous level. Currently, transportation services are at state minimum standards meaning that students K-8 receive transportation services if they live more than 2 miles from their school and high school students do not receive transportation services; with the passage of the levy students in grades K-12 would receive transportation services if they live more than 1 mile from their school. The Board also stated that with the passage of the levy extracurricular pay-to-participate fees and performing arts activity fees will be reduced by 50%. Currently, students participating in varsity level sports pay $660 per sport. Current staffing, programs and services would be maintained at the levels that will be in place for the 2010-2011 school year.

Without additional revenues additional staffing cuts would be made for the 2011-2012 school year, which would be in the range of 50 to 70 teaching positions thus increasing class sizes; many district programs would be at state minimum standards; a number of electives would be eliminated as well as a lower number of choices for core academic classes.

Randy Stepp, Superintendent stated “Support of this issue is critical to the school district and the students we serve. This past school year 93.5 teaching positions were eliminated along with close to 60 support staff employees. We want to be able to maintain the level of services and programs that we will have this coming school year. Our goal is to continue to provide a great educational experience with varied opportunities to the children of our community. While 14 laid-off teachers were brought back through concessions made by the teacher’s association, the remaining 79.5 laid-off teaching positions leave a major void in the programs and services once offered in our district.”

In the very near future, the school district will be releasing additional information about the upcoming Emergency Levy.