Mantua – The results of last week’s School Board meeting were streamed live, and have also been shared by local daily publications, online, and on television. Late last week, Crestwood Superintendent David Toth released a statement throughout the community, sharing that due to the loss of state funding in the amount of roughly $550,000 dollars, loss of 583 students over the last 10 years, and rising operating costs, the school board made the difficult decision to reduce the budget by $1.4 million. Since over 80% of the district’s expenditures are in personnel, 57% of the reductions are personnel reductions — cuts in teachers, aides, and non-classified personnel.
Prior to their vote, the board invited public comment from those in attendance, which came from district teachers as well as parents and students. First to speak was elementary counselor Gary Traveny, who implored the board to reconsider offering an incentive to district employees who retire early. According to Traveny, “If someone at the highest salary range leaves and you replace them with someone at a lower salary range, your savings are immediate.” He went on to explain that even more money is saved if the vacated positions aren’t filled. After some discussion among the board, they asked Mr. Toth for the exact amount of savings the district would receive. Mr. Toth explained that the savings depends on who retires, and if the district needs to replace them. Mr. Traveny had shared that over a dozen district employees would qualify for the program. Mr. Toth explained that in order to calculate the exact savings, she would need the employee name and salary of those who opt to participate in the program. As explained in previous meetings, participation in the program cannot be ascertained until the program is offered to district staff. As a conservative estimate, District Treasurer Jill Rowe noted that at least one position could be saved from proposed cuts through this proposed program.
Next, the board heard from a parent in support of a specific CHS teacher, Mr. Rader, and the exceptional job she and her children feel he does. She summed up her thoughts by sharing that the bigger issue isn’t about amazing and dedicated teachers losing their jobs, but about Crestwood losing these valuable resources. Next, high school art teacher Teresa Skully shared specific ways the proposed cuts would affect the art program. She noted that the loss of Mr. Head at CMS means that CHS will lose an art teacher. This loss will mean the elimination of studio classes including photography, graphic design, and advanced art, providing students with only the bare minimum of electives to choose from. She noted that the district currently, “holds our own with much larger districts,” in statewide as well as national art competitions. She noted that due to the wide variety of courses offered, Crestwood students have won 10 gold and 10 silver awards, as well as over 200 gold and silver key awards for portfolios competing with thousands of students across the country. She urged the board to “dig deep to find a solution.”
“these teachers will excel in their new positions. It’s the students who will suffer.”
A high school physical education teacher reiterated earlier sentiments that were expressed, sharing that if the board chooses to move forward with cuts, “these teachers will excel in their new positions. It’s the students who will suffer.” Environmental science teacher Andy Brown noted that with the current focus on STEM learning, Crestwood’s already small Science Department will feel a big loss with the elimination of chemistry teacher Colleen Schveder. He urged the board to consider other alternatives, like online opportunities where students could attend ‘digitally’ a few days a month to reduce transportation and utility costs. He shared that the cut to his department would necessitate a department-wide reorganization and mean that everyone would be teaching something new, in order to provide the “bare minimum,” sending “STEM-seeking students” outside the district. He asked the board if they stand by the district’s mission of educating “every child, or just the ones who don’t have the means to seek it elsewhere.”
English teacher and Crestwood parent Angela Finn concurred, stating, “Bare-bones education is not attractive to parents and student.” She explained, “My fear is that we’ll continue to lose students at an alarming rate.” Sarah Moore, one of the teachers included in the proposed cuts, acknowledged the impending need for the financial issues need to be addressed. She noted that potential cuts are “ever-present in our field,” but urged the Board to, “be certain that the course of action you take will fix the problems we have at Crestwood.” She continued, “While I’ll be profusely saddened leaving Crestwood, I’d feel far worse if it were in vain, and Crestwood students find themselves in the same position in the near future, when other options could have been considered.”
“If we expect our students to become caring, compassionate human beings, if we expect our children and students to always bring their best, do their best, and be the best people they can be, let’s show them that we care enough about the quality of education at Crestwood to offer them the best.”
Long-time Crestwood English teacher Chris Spencer shared that potential cuts would leave only one English teacher per grade level, increasing class sizes, reducing the amount of time spent instructing each student, and eliminating the variety of classes offered. “If we expect our students to become caring, compassionate human beings, if we expect our children and students to always bring their best, do their best, and be the best people they can be, let’s show them that we care enough about the quality of education at Crestwood to offer them the best.”
Betty Minor, involved with Crestwood education for 46 years, was also included in the proposed cuts. As a 50-year resident who attended as a student, sent her children to Crestwood, and whose grandchildren are currently enrolled there, she considers herself an advocate for the District and it’s students. She noted that in recent years, Children are far from the focus of what is important.” She noted that the district has always been ‘premiere in the county, but as programs are eroded by money issues and arguing over personal agendas, Crestwood’s luster has become severely challenged.” She asked, “Why aren’t we rallying together to support our schools and teachers, and to build a better Crestwood? If we don’t, we’ll be left with a Crestwood we are no longer proud to call our school or our home.” She added, “Given the opportunities for our students to become educated outside this community, is this proposed staff and program reduction moving Crestwood down a path that makes it viable in the long-term?”
“You vote for these cuts, and the tradition ends tonight.”
French teacher Meredith Ersing noted that moving ahead with the proposed cuts would remove good educators and good programs, a move that could discourage families from sending their students to Crestwood. Angus McDougal, Crestwood graduate and history teacher, shined light on the benefits of the CHS Academy program. He noted that highly-regarded program highlights the best of 21st century learning, with Crestwood students honored as the state champions for presentation skills, state-ranked in environmental science. The program provides six of the seven College Credit Plus credits — an option that lets Crestwood students earn up to a year of college credit at no charge before leaving high school. In addition, he noted that if the program is cut, the district will forfeit at least $100,000 in student-solicited grants awarded to construct a 2,700 square foot aquaponics research center that would become the largest fresh Foodbank in Portage County. He noted that Crestwood has maintained a long tradition of excellence, but added, “You vote for these cuts, and the tradition ends tonight.”
Immediately after hearing from the public, the school board made their collective decision to move forward with the cuts. The following staff members contracts will not be renewed in the 2018-2019 school year include Nicholas Fejedelem, Jennifer Yardas, Sarah Moore, James Dutched, Ariel Bissell, Alyssa Head, David Verhotz, Christopher Rader, Colleen Schveder, Eric Head, Jennifer Wilson, and Betty Miner, as well as the elimination of the High School math position vacated upon the retirement of Nancy Cline at the end of the current school year. In addition, aides Terri Lawless, Chris Zeigler, Deborah Wesley and custodian Jefferey Olson also lost their jobs. The decision on the elimination of specific programs will take place at a future board meeting.
While cuts in state and federal funding are common in every school district across Ohio, Crestwood’s financial situation is further exacerbated by the fact that the district hasn’t received any additional operating funds from the local community since 1992.
The next Crestwood School Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 24th at 7 pm in the Crestwood Primary School.
