Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Strongsville would 'laugh' at a levy this year, official says; meanwhile, work stoppage is saving district big bucks
The Strongsville schools are looking at a budget deficit of around $2 million within two years, the district's treasurer said. Deborah Herrmann said she was asked to put together a financial forecast in mid-February to be used during contract negotiations between the School Board and teachers' union. "It showed that if we don't go for a levy, we will need another $2 million in cuts over the next two years," Herrmann said. A 3.5-operating levy this year would put the district on firm footing until at least 2017, she said. "It's just one option," Herrmann said. "We either have to make cuts or generate revenue." It's not likely, though. School Board President David Frazee said he doubts residents would support a levy this year in light of …
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Incumbents re-elected; school bond issue is ahead
THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED AT 10 A.M. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7 It appears the Strongsville schools bond issue has passed by a 28-vote margin. With 36 of 36 precincts counted on Election Day, Issue 116 appeared to have lost. However, new votes were added to the tally overnight, putting the issue ahead 11,222 to 11,194. Results aren't final until there is a recount and provisional ballots are counted. In the race for 7th District House of Representatives, incumbent Mike Dovilla beat Democratic challenger Matt Patten by a 340-vote margin, according to unofficial results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. Incumbent Republican Tom Patton handily won re-election to his 24th District State Senate seat. The vote totals will change when …
Monday, September 17, 2012
62 people show up Saturday to help spread the word
The campaign for the Strongsville School District's $81 million bond issue went to the streets Saturday, with volunteers knocking on doors to spread the word about Issue 116. Ward 3 Councilman Jim Carbone, who is helping lead the campaign, said 62 people gave up their Saturday to help with the Walk and Talk. "I think they came back more excited than when they left because of the great feedback they got from people they talked to," Carbone said. The Walk and Talk targeted people who have voted in the last few general elections. "I think people really appreciated us going to them," Carbone said. "They had a chance to ask questions and get them answered." Issue 116 is an $81 milion bond issue that would pay to build a new middle school on the…
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Issue 14 will keep the district in the black next school year
Voters have approved a 6-mill renewal levy for the Strongsville schools, averting cuts in busing, athletics and other programs. Issue 14 passed Tuesday 7,227 to 6,410, according to unofficial results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. "The real winners today are our kids," Superintendent Jeff Lampert said. "We thank the voters for their trust." The issue will run for the next five years, generating $7.6 million a year. The revenue accounts for about 11 percent of the school district's operating budget. Had it failed, the district had one more chance to get it approved -- in August -- before making deep cuts into student busing and other programs. School Treasurer Bill Parkinson cautions, though, that the renewal approved Tuesday…
Giant Eagle rezoning, school levy add local controversy to Presidential primary ballot
Two controversial local issues will be decided today, as well as the winner of Ohio's Presidential primary. Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Strongsville Patch will start posting results this evening as soon as the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections makes them available. Check back throughout the evening for up-to-the-minute results. Local issues are: Issue 4: Giant Eagle rezoning. The owners of Strongsville Golf on Pearl Road are seeking to rezone a section of their property from residential to business so Giant Eagle can buy it and build a Market District supermarket there. The issue would have to pass citywide and in Ward 2. Residents near the project site have opposed it, saying they don't want to deal with the noise and extra …
Monday, March 5, 2012
Our unofficial survey shows a pretty close vote on Issue 14
Our unofficial poll on the 6-mill renewal levy for the Strongsville Schools shows the issue passing at the polls on Tuesday. About 52 percent Strongsville Patch readers said they plan to vote yes on Issue 14, which would renew a levy set to expire at the end of this year. Roughly 42 percent are voting no, and 4 percent were still undecided. Issue 14 would not raise taxes and would replace an existing 6-mill levy that expires this year. The issue generates $7.6 million a year -- about 11 percent of the school district's budget. If it is not renewed, school officials say they will have to cut more than $7 million out of the budget for the 2012-2013 school year, which would likely mean major cuts in busing, extracurriculars, gifted programs …
Friday, March 2, 2012
Voters will decide Issue 14 on Tuesday
Voters turned down a school levy renewal in November, but many people said it was because the issue ran indefinitely. School officials responded with Issue 14, which would renew an expiring 6-mill levy. It would run for five years and would not raise taxes. There's been less controversy about this issue. Does that mean it will sail to victory on Tuesday?
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
School board will start planning cuts if Issue 14 doesn't pass March 6
If Issue 14, the 6-mill renewal levy for the Strongsville Schools, is defeated at the polls March 6, cuts will not necessarily go into effect for the 2012-2013 school year. But school officials will have to start planning $4 million in cuts that would take effect immediately if the issue doesn't pass in August. "We're talking about things like busing, athletics, curriculum," Treasurer Bill Parkinson said. "We'd be getting into actual core programs." If voters shoot down Issue 14 next Tuesday, the school district will have one more chance to put it on the ballot -- on Aug. 7 -- before the cuts would be made. In the meantime, though, officials would have to figure exactly what would be eliminated so they could quickly put the plan in place …
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Mom has seen firsthand the dedication of teachers and staff
- OPINION
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
To the Editor: I am writing today to urge readers to vote “YES” on Issue 14, the renewal levy for Strongsville City Schools. My family moved to Strongsville in 1997 and chose to live in Strongsville largely because of the impeccable reputation the school system had at that time. Our three children have attended Chapman Elementary School, Allen Elementary School, Albion Middle School and Strongsville High School. We have been impressed with the learning environments to which our children have been exposed and the educational opportunities available to them. Foreign languages in the middle schools, honors and advanced placement classes in middle school and the high school, a wide variety of elective classes at the high school and …
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
PTA Council urges voters to attend sessions on Issue 14
Strongsville Council PTA will host two Town Hall meetings to discuss Issue 14, the 6-mill renewal levy for the schools on the March 6 ballot. The meetings are intended to inform and educate the community on the levy. Speaking at the sessions will be Superintendent Jeff Lampert, Assistant Superintendent John Krupinski, Business Director Mark Donnelly and Karen Rebholz, president of PTA Council. Taxpayers are encouraged to attend one of the two meetings: • Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at Kinsner Elementary School. • Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at Muraski Elementary School.
Linda
1:26 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
You also might think back to many of the Governor statements. He really likes charter schools and wants more of them. Anyone up for that. They are cheap for the student and the teacher but the state pays for that. Why not pay for public schools. NO he pulled money away from public schools. He also wants to sell the state liquor stores. One of the few revenue producing entities in the state, This … more ›