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Little Miami school levy fails

Lynn Steinkirchner, a junior high PTO president and school volunteer, reacts after learning the Little Miami school levy failed on Tuesday, May 5.

Samantha Grier Lynn Steinkirchner, a junior high PTO president and school volunteer, reacts after learning the Little Miami school levy failed on Tuesday, May 5.

ENLARGE PHOTO

By Ryan Cook, Staff Writer Updated 12:55 AM Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Voters in the Little Miami School District overwhelmingly voted Tuesday, May 5, against a operating levy by a margin of 58 to 42 percent.

According to unofficial results from the Warren County Board of Elections, 5,239 votes were cast against the levy and 3,839 votes were for it.

The district was asking for a 3-year, 9.95 mill operating levy that would have cost the owner of a $150,000 home an extra $457 per year.

“This is a very critical time for our district, and tonight’s results are quite disappointing for our students, schools and staff,” Superintendent Dan Bennett said.

The district will now begin to implement more than $5 million in cuts before the start of the 2009-2010 school year, Bennett said.

“I feel bad for the kids in the district,” said pro-levy campaign chairman Herb Mayer. “Our children are going to suffer.”

The school board will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, in the high school media center to discuss the next steps for the district.

“The coming days and weeks will be extremely difficult as we cut a total of 82.5 positions, say good-bye to valuable employees, and close the doors to two beloved community schools,” Bennett said.

Cuts will include additional administrative and certified staff reductions of more than $1.5 million, busing only students who live more than two miles from their school, offering Advanced Placement and elective classes at state minimums, closing the kindergarten annex and Butlerville and Morrow elementary schools and charging full pay-to-participate fees of about $430 for all extracurricular activities. The district is also considering a change in its kindergarten schedule to all-day, every other day classes.

Bennett is now pushing for reform in the state’s school funding system.

“We believe the outcome of this election emphasizes the need for a school funding reform in the state of Ohio,” he said. “Districts are forced to continually return to their local communities, asking for support of tax issues. The result is division.”

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