1/10/11 East Holmes passes $1.1 million in cuts

  • By Nick Sabo
  • January 10, 2012
  • 325
                        
SUMMARY: Severity of cuts hinge on passage of levy March 6; levy campaign underway With half a million worth of cuts going into effect at the start of the 2012 - 2013 school year, the East Holmes Board of Education is readying a levy campaign that, if successful, will hopefully negate the need for $500,000 more. The board approved a $1.1 million package of cuts Monday Jan. 9, half of which will go into effect at the start of the next school year. If a 5 year, 3.77 mill levy on the March 6 ballot fails, the school year will start off with cuts representing the full $1.1 million. “East Holmes will look very different from the way it is now,” district Superintendent Joe Edinger said. “I like the way East Holmes looks today. I’d like to keep the district we want, rather than the district we can afford.” Monday’s meeting was a combination of school board business and a levy campaign kick-off. Prior to Jan. 9, Edinger initially proposed $1 million in cuts but added the extra $100,000 to ensure the $1 million is met. The first half of cuts to take effect regardless of whether the March 6 levy passes includes pay to participate fees, implementation of student fees, and elimination of busing for students who live within a mile of school. A total of nine positions will be eliminated, meaning seven people will lose their jobs with East Holmes in 2012. The first half of budget cuts are in response to failure of a 3.82 mill levy Nov. 8 that would have generated $1.5 million a year for the district. If the March 6 levy does not pass, busing will be cut for students living within two miles of school, pay to participate and student fees will increase above the levels suggested in the first round of cuts, and 18 positions will be eliminated. The effects of the job losses will mean one less librarian, and offerings in science, language arts, vocational agriculture and art will be less than in the past. Larger class sizes and shared grades, with one member of faculty teaching two grades, is a definite possibility, Edinger said. Board president Paul Shutt said the cuts represent the financial state the district has found itself in due to cuts at the state funding level. “We are kind of sad that it has come to this,” Shutt said. “We’re trying to do the best we can to educate the students of East Holmes...Not one of us wants to do this.” The 3.77 mill operating levy will share space on the ballot with the district’s one mill permanent improvement levy. The permanent improvement levy is up for renewal and generates $350,000 for the district. Because it is a renewal, taxpayers will not see a change in their taxes. Levy Campaign already underway Edinger noted that absentee voting begins Jan. 31, and March 6 is less than three months away. The timetable necessitates getting started on selling the levy immediately, he said. “We lost the absentee vote (in the Nov. 8 election),” Edinger said. “They’re voting five weeks early. Some folks are making their decision right now before we can get the info out.” Edinger said the levy will be promoted weekly, with each week focusing on one issue. Starting this week, efforts will center on the cost of past levy failures and the differences between operating levies and permanent improvement levies. Over the next several weeks, the focus will be on transportation, community-based schools, and successes in athletic and academic programs. The campaign will wrap up the week of Feb. 27 - March 2 with how the schools will be effected if the levy fails. Several individuals spoke at Monday’s meeting to address concerns that the public at large does not understand the issues facing the district. Former East Holmes superintendant Joe Wengerd noted that the majority of school age children in the district area attend parochial schools, and getting the attention of people who have no direct connection to district can be difficult. “Under 15 percent of our population is directly related to the public school system,” Wengerd said. “We rely on our local community to come through. As I’ve said before, I always have faith in our community. If you can, use any persuasive technique to convince someone who is wavering.” Edinger suggested five events to promote the levy, including a ‘fun night’ for kids, date night for parents and tours of the district. When promoting the Nov. 8 levy, Edinger, Treasurer Marsha Clark and boardmembers organized and attended 35 meetings. This time, Edinger suggested local groups invite the district’s representatives to their meetings. “When I put up that I’m holding a meeting, they don’t come,” Edinger said. “If you’re having a meeting, they will come, and I’ll show up, or the treasurer, or any of (the boardmembers) here.” The weekly promotions will be carried out through local media and other forums, Edinger said. Edinger said attendance at Monday’s meeting was a positive start to the campaign. “I hoped for 50, and we have 75,” Edinger said. At the last meeting in the Nov. 8 levy campaign, “only staff showed up,” Edinger said. For more information on the levy campaign, visit the district website at www.eastholmes.k12.oh.us


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