By Natasha L. Adams, Superintendent
What does the district’s financial picture look like right now?
The stark reality that our current financial forecast shows is that without additional revenue, even providing the current level of services and programs is not sustainable. While we have been very fortunate to partner with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission to address our most recent facility issues, there are no such options with our operating budget.
The amount we spend per student in West Clermont is far less than most public school districts in the state of Ohio. According to the 2018 Cupp Report, our spending ranks 583rd lowest out of the 610 Ohio public school districts, which means we are doing as much as we can with less. And although the district was able to move out of fiscal caution in August 2014, cuts to programs and services have compromised the quality of education we can offer.
In June 2019, our Board of Education deepened the conversation about how the district is going to secure additional funding and what that would look like for our students, our staff, and our community. They tasked the treasurer and me with researching and providing options to help determine whether services could be expanded, remain as they are, or if cuts could even be made. Based on the facts and information we spent months gathering, I have recommended to the Board of Education to place an operating levy on the ballot that is the lowest possible amount we can request and still provide the current programs and services.
As a result, at their October 21st meeting, the West Clermont Board of Education members in attendance unanimously took the first step toward placing a 7.99-mill emergency operating levy request on the March 17, 2020, presidential primary ballot.
Operating levies help fund the day-to-day operations of a school district, such as utilities, supplies, busing, and the majority of our staffing. Our most vital need right now is stabilization in order to protect and maintain the programs and services we currently offer in our schools. We are to a point where we need additional funding simply to maintain the programs and services we currently offer in our schools. Without additional local support, the gap will continue to grow and further impact the student experience.
Arriving at the decision to place a levy on the ballot is never one taken lightly. Our district has and continues to prove itself as a good steward of the public dollar while making tough decisions. West Clermont Schools has a long track record of doing more with less, but now we have done all we can and are facing significant operational needs. The reality is, we know we can’t rely on the state for funding and our students simply can’t afford any more cuts to the experience they are receiving in our schools.
For more information, I encourage you to review the Financial Health Update and our new web page dedicated to the March 2020 Levy for Learning for our school district. If you have questions about the financial health of the district please log onto Thoughtexchange and share your feedback. It’s important we continue the conversation with our community throughout this process to truly understand the educational priorities for West Clermont.
