Schools

Cuts Coming if School Levy Fails, Busing Returns if Passed

The Stow-Munroe Falls School Board said if the levy does not pass in November, it's prepared to cut several items or increase some fees to help make ends meet.

The school district is looking to cut about $500,000 from its $55 million operating budget if the November school levy fails or reinstating high school busing if it passes.

Treasurer/CFO Catherine Bulgrin said the $500,000 figure is under consideration by the district and board and could be higher.

The weighed its options during the Sept. 12 meeting.

Find out what's happening in Stowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Possible cuts that could be made if the 6.57-mill 10-year levy on the Nov. 8 ballot does not pass:

  • Busing K-8 would be reduced to the 2-mile state minimum. Students who live less than 2 miles from their school building will no longer have transportation offered to them.
  • Closing all elementary buildings and at 4 p.m.
  • Closing and at 6 p.m.
  • Closing all buildings on the weekend.
  • All field trips eliminated.
  • Closing one or more school buildings. (An independent committee will be made up of local citizens to review a building and recommend whether they should be closed.)
  • Pay-to-play fees will double for the 2012-13 school year.

Currently, it costs $150 per sport, $100 for band and $100 for other activities. There is a $450 family cap and students with free or reduced lunches receive a discount.

Find out what's happening in Stowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If the levy fails, cuts would be effective Nov. 14 of this year. The district plans to discuss the cuts further during its Sept. 26 meeting at 7 p.m. at the high school. 

If the levy does pass, high school busing will be reinstated with cluster stops. 

A  would generate $6.5 million annually for 10 years and would cost the owner of a $100,000 home:

  • $201.21 annually
  • $100.60 for half a year
  • $16.77 a month
  • 55 cents a day

If passed, the first collection would be in 2012. The district has not collected new money since 2002.

Issue 2, the same 6.57-mill levy,  Aug. 2.

The cuts listed above are only going to be made if the levy does not pass Nov. 8, said Superintendent Russ Jones.

The district has cut millions from its budget since 2002. Most recently, the board approved in April. Employees also took 

"We've done our due diligence to keep our nose above financial water with all these reductions," said Jones.

Click to see previous cuts made.

"It's pretty amazing when you think about how we were ranked 'Excellent' for the first time five years ago and are still ... we've maintained that all along the way and we've been cutting," said Jones. 

According to the five-year financial forecast, the district would be $2.29 million in the red by 2014 if new money isn't passed. 

"We’re at the end folks. We have made it our mantra to keep out of classroom. Now we have levy on ballot, with no new dollars since 2002 … it's time that the community invest in the school district and its children," he said.


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