The upcoming Chardon Schools levy (Issue 3) is an important effort to garner support from the Chardon community.
For the most part, it is simply an attempt maintain and not regress. Most of the revenue sought by passage of the levy will go to compensate for the loss of the personal property tax reimbursement the state legislature has stopped.
Another large part of the levy would recover costs paid when a Chardon student elects to go to another public school or “computer” school.
The balance of the levy revenue would go toward sustaining the excellent performance our District has been providing – for years.
Columbus uses “interesting” formulae when it comes to “helping” schools like Chardon (nothing’s changed!). Remember, Chardon is considered a “wealthy” school by the State and thus receives less support than other districts. The State has decided that its portion of helping schools in Ohio “starts” at around $6,000 per student. However, the machinations only start with that amount. Based on other formulae, needs, and priorities, Chardon only gets about $1,300 of the $6,000 from Columbus. The balance goes elsewhere.
The game does not stop there however. When a Chardon area student enrolls in another public or computer school, the entire $6,000 follows that student to the new school. Guess who picks up the $4,700 difference? Chardon taxpayers do, of course.
The result is another hit to the school budget. That loss totals approximately $500,000 for Chardon – every year. Add that loss to the personal property subsidy that’s gone and the total lost is around $1.5 million – every year. Again, these are the main reasons for the levy. Thank you, Columbus!
There’s no question the Chardon School District provides an excellent education. Almost every objective measurement demonstrates it. Our teachers, students and administrators prove it constantly. The comparisons with neighboring districts show what a value Chardon residents continue to get despite the constant financial pressures brought upon the District through no fault of its own. (Please check the Chardon Schools website for details comparing a variety of criteria. You will be surprised – hopefully pleased – maybe proud!)
Like anyone else, educators are not anxious to come to the electorate, even periodically, to seek additional revenue. The amount levies raise is fixed by law. A levy passed 20 years ago still raises the same amount it did in 1998. (Imagine if your income stayed static.) School revenues don’t go up, but stay constant – as costs go up. That dynamic is why in Ohio, schools everywhere have to approach voters every so many years for another levy. Chardon is no different – except in many other parts of the State, help does come from Columbus.
The last levy in November only failed by about 400 votes. An interesting statistic came out of that election. A surprising number of parents who have students in our schools did not vote. While one never knows how one votes, public records do show who came to the polls. The challenge has been sent out to those parents, mostly younger citizens — to vote. Over 75 percent of those at the polls in November were over 45 years old. It’s time “our parents” vote!
Chardon Schools, like many other districts in Ohio, and more accurately Northeast Ohio (Mentor), are going through changes related to decreased enrollment. The District has taken steps to address this situation and to do so with an intense focus on maintaining the quality education so many Chardon students have received in the past.
If you attended Chardon Schools, you know the quality and value you received. Good schools help make good communities. Great schools make great communities. What type of community would you like?
Woody Hayes, with full credit to Emerson (“Compensation”), constantly pressed the concept of “paying it forward.” It’s impossible to repay those who helped you in the past. Think about it. The only thing you can do is “pay it forward” by helping those “in front” of you. It’s time. As it always has been, and always will be, it’s simply up to us. Please vote YES for Issue 3 on May 8.
Dave Jevnikar
Chardon