Mantua – At a Town Hall-style meeting held on October 17th, Superintendent Dr. David Toth updated the community on the financial outlook for the Crestwood School District. Toth began by sharing that the Crestwood community enjoys one of the lowest tax rates in Portage County. He noted that Crestwood is second only to Southeast, who benefits from Federal dollars, as a military base occupies a portion of that community.
Toth went on to explain that operating issues pay for day-to-day operating expenses such as teachers, utilities and supplies. Permanent improvement issues are used for capital improvement projects, maintenance and repairs of school property and certain equipment items that are designed to last five years or more.
Toth noted that the Crestwood community has passed two levies for operating funds – once in 1992 and a renewal in 2012. He noted that the community passed a permanent improvement levy in 1988 which was renewed in 2021. He explained that levies that are renewed collect the same dollar value as the year in which they were first passed by voters (i.e.: 2012 renewal collected 1992-tax valuation dollars, while the 2021 renewal collects 1988-tax valuation dollars). He noted that while the cost of doing business continues to rise, the funds available to the district do not.
In addition, the Permanent Improvement Bond that was implemented when the Primary and Intermediate schools were built will expire in 2023, cutting off funds that have been valuable to upkeep those nearly 20-year-old buildings as well as Crestwood’s more senior buildings. Toth highlighted a number of permanent improvement projects recently undertaken withing the district. He noted that the worst roofs were repaired – those above the high school cafeteria, gymnasium, and stage. The investment in those repairs include a 20-year warranty. Toth also noted that work is underway on the CHS HVAC system. Updates have been made to the audio system, and 80 windows have been replaced at CHS, improving energy efficiency in the district’s oldest structure.
Paving projects have improved the high school parking lot as well as the lots near the Primary and Intermediate schools. Both schools need boiler replacements; the rubber surface of the shared playground must be replaced, since it can no longer be patched. District-wide, Toth noted that 15 school buses in Crestwood’s fleet are due to be replaced. Four have been ordered using state funding, although only two have arrived, due to supply chain issues. While Phase One of the Geis project (near Ohio Turnpike) is projected to bring $350,000 annually to the schools, as the cost of doing business increases, Toth recommends the community consider a levy replacement during a 2023 election.
To that end, local resident Rich McIntyre has formed a grassroots committee called Crestwood Revitalization. The group would consist of community members, teachers, staff and school board members. McIntyre requested an ‘all hands-on deck’ approach and requested that those interested join the committee to help. Categories include design/building usage, financial, operations, marketing, and publicity. He reiterated that the core of a community is its school district. He encouraged those in attendance to get involved in whichever committee they’d be best suited for. For more information or to take part in Crestwood Revitalization, call the board office at (330) 357-8206.
The next regular school board meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 8th at 7 pm in the Administration Building on John Edwards Drive. The meeting will also be live streamed and recorded; for information on how to view visit crestwoodschools.org.
