As spring approaches, Olentangy Local Schools officials continue to stress the importance of the upcoming levy proposal on the ballot this March 17.
The proposed levy highlights a series of crucial needs the district will face in the upcoming years. The future plans the district has in place depends heavily on the upcoming levy.
“If the levy passes, we will be able to maintain the level of academic excellence that the community has come to expect from the Olentangy Local School District.” school board member Kristyn Wilson said.
“We will start the construction of one of the elementary schools which will open in 2021, and the second elementary school and middle school will open in 2023.” school board member Julie Wagner-Feasel said.
Building new facilities is far from the only thing the district plans to do. Updating all elementary playgrounds to align with the current Americans with disabilities code and continuing security upgrades in buildings around the district are just a couple of immediate plans ready to be implemented, according to Wagner-Feasel.
There is a lot riding on this levy However, if it does not pass, all of these plans will simply not be possible.
“We will have to start implementing cuts to programming for the 2020-2021 school year that would total about $16 million. We will also not be able to start building the two elementary schools and one middle school which are needed to accommodate growth.” Wagner-Feasel said, when asked about the major impacts the district would face if the levy were not to pass.
After the 2016 levy passed, the school board promised the funds would last three years. As we head deeper into 2020, the school board was able to stretch those funds to last four years now.
“If passed in March, the new taxes will not be collected until Jan. 1st, 2021. It will cost an extra $276 per $100,000 of property valuation,” Wagner-Feasel said.
Many parents have their hesitations about the idea of a new levy passing. “It’s a lot of money to ask for, especially considering that it wasn’t too long ago that a levy was passed” Kerry Renner said, a parent of three students within the Olentangy Local School District.
The district has already made great efforts with budgeting and planning for the future. “I think the district has been good stewards of our funds. They can only react to the explosive growth we have experienced.” Third grade teacher Val Scheibeck said, who also has children within the Olentangy Local School District.
“According to the Ohio Department of Education’s District Profile, our school district already spends less than the state average school district and less than comparable school districts. We have implemented cost savings of $8.5 million in our employee healthcare program and since 2011 we have implemented an energy savings program that has saved the district $3.4 million,” Wagner-Feasel said.
This school issue will be on the March 17 ballot. People should vote at their assigned precinct or they can vote by mail or do early in-person voting. The Delaware County Board of Elections has all of the voting information at https://boardofelections.co.delaware.oh.us/voter-information/
Comments