For 19 years the Ravenna school district has not needed to pass an operating levy. Times have changed and the school district is now seeking an emergency operating levy of $6.9 million on the March 19 ballot to maintain funding for school operations.
“We need this levy to pass to keep operating and keep these programs for our children because our kids have needs,” said co-Levy chair Bill Wisniewski.
According to Wisniewski, the administration presented a proposal for an emergency operating levy to the Ravenna Board of Education last fall and the Board submitted the proposal to the Portage County Board of Elections, which submitted the levy to the Ravenna City Council on an expedited basis and they passed a resolution approving it to be placed on the March 19 ballot.
Even if the levy passes, the school district must wait a year before it can receive the money. The money generated from the emergency operating levy will account for 44% of the district’s general revenue with $12 million coming from local property taxes.
“Just as much as the industries are a part of our community, just as much as businesses are a part of our community, we are very grateful for the Ravenna City Mayor and City Council passing the resolution for the levy,” Wisniewski added.
Ravenna had passed two levies in the last seven years, but they were both permanent improvement levies, which used the money for capital projects to improve and replace doors, windows, parking lots and roofs. That money could not be used for operating needs.
For the last several years, the Ravenna school district has seen the graduation numbers grow from 70% to 90.7%, algebra scores have increased by 13% and the school district also improved to become a 2.5 star district in the new state ranking system. Despite these performance improvements, the school district has had to eliminate staff positions and several teachers have taken retirement.
With the reduction of the school district’s work force, Ravenna has saved approximately $1.1 million, but it only accounted for 4% of the operating budget. The school district is now at a crossroads where if it does not pass the emergency operating levy, there could be darker days ahead.
“There will be some ramifications and difficult decisions that the administration and Board of Education will be forced to look at,” acknowledged Wisniewski. “If we do not pass what will be phase two of the challenges of educating our children, it is concerning.”
In addition to needing the emergency operating levy to maintain several school programs, Wisniewski noted that the school district will also need the money to maintain the quality of the school buses and the medical premiums of the staff.
Costs have soared since Wisniewski served as the Ravenna Schools’ Director of Business Operations for 23 years. When he assumed the position, the cost of a school bus was anywhere from $35,000-$40,000 but it currently costs approximately $110,000 and medical care rates have increased at an 184% growth rate.
“This is so vital for us to pass this levy to help programming for kids because that part of it will also retain teachers and it will help us to look at our performance and programming of what we are doing and to help us to look at retaining good teachers,” Wisniewski said.
Some of the school programs which have contributed to the school district’s improved performance include full day kindergarten, new reading programs and have also afforded parents the opportunities to join their children on class field trips.
“The parents are invited to come along with the children, and they benefit so there is a chance for moms and dads to interact,” noted Wisniewski. “But there is also a reality that their little young people are starting school and it is a chance to connect into a resource together.”
Another key part of the school district that is dependent on the emergency operating levy is the special education program. Although the average school district has 10-12% of students that require the special ed program, Ravenna’s special education numbers are at 27%.
“The cost educating our children’s special needs are very expensive and they come out of school dollars and help children with physical and emotional needs,” Wisniewski noted. “Those dollars are things that we are looking at now because those are costs that are associated with the levy.”
Although the school district will still have to wait a year before the operating levy’s funds are available, having that cushion will allow the school district to maintain its current operations.
