SWCS Levy Opponents, Supporters Go Head To Head

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ohio -- Voters failed the South-Western City Schools’ levy last Tuesday during a special election. Will the district ask for voters’ support for a fourth time?

The school board held a meeting Monday night. It was clear both proponents and opponents of another operational levy were far from backing down.

Both sides have said a new attempt would have to be different and the district has to find a way to bring the community back together.

HERE ARE THE FAST FACTS.
- An 8.3-mill operating levy was voted down during a special Tuesday, Aug. 4, election earlier this month.
- That special election cost the district $85,000.
- Fifty-one percent of voters said no while 49 percent said yes.
- The following reductions will remain in place:
1. Classroom budgets at the 2008-2009 level
2. A portion of purchased services budgets
3. Kingston School including one principal’s position, one clerical position, 0.5 medication monitor position and one custodial position
4. Before and afterschool activities and programs including three athletic supervisor positions, four athletic clerical positions, 1.5 athletic training positions and supplemental contracts for extracurricular and co-curricular activities
5. Board-supported field trips
6. High-school busing and extended walk zone area busing for grades K-8
7. Teaching positions – 0.5 Educational Technology teaching position, one Supplemental Services teaching position and one work study (special education position)
8. Support positions – one director of human services position, one professional development support position, one mechanic position, one computer technician position, one computer operator position and seven educational resource center (library) aide positions in grades K-4
- The levy would have raised $21 million for the area’s second-largest school district.

NBC 4 went to the meeting and reported with both sides of the debate.

The deadline for the SWCS board to place an issue on the November general election ballot is 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20.

People for and against went head to head in a heated discussion Monday night.

“I think what we have seen here in the South-West City Schools is tyranny. I have never seen a more outrageous abuse of government power than using our children to divide our families. I mean, I don't know who these people think they are,” opponent Robert Wagner said.

“The men in the coffee shop interviewed on TV the day after the election spend more every day on coffee and donuts than this election would have cost them,” proponent Mary Mulvaney said.

Some residents weren’t arguing only; they brought suggestions to the table, too.

“I urge you to reinstitute all extracurricular activities immediately to stop the hemorrhaging of students from our district. To counteract this, I ask you consider a small, 2 percent cut in wages across the board for every employee in the southwestern city school district,” supporter Julie said.

Other residents said if the district were to try again, their minds won’t be changed and the results won’t be any different.

“I do not take light to threats, and I am not intimidated, and I’m not backing off this thing. Do not try to come to my front door. I’m going to warn everybody about that right now,” opponent Jerry Jones said.

“I can assure you we are going to do the very best that we can, and we're not holding anyone hostage. I’m not holding my kids hostage, and I’m not holding yours hostage. We're trying to keep this district afloat,” board member Greg McCarty said.

The board members who spoke last night said they are leaning toward putting some kind of a levy issue on the November ballot.

Without it, they said the district will face millions more in cuts.

The district will have to cut an additional $5 million if voters don’t pass a levy this year, according to Issue 2 co-chair Jill Billman-Royer. Royer said she doesn't think voters understood that or perhaps it wasn't communicated well enough the last time around.

The board was scheduled to meet at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday to discuss options and possibly adopt a resolution for an operating levy in November.

The meeting was to be held at the South-Western Career Academy. A district spokesperson said public participation will not be allowed at this meeting, which is policy for district special meetings.

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