Issue 39 Even More Critical
with Recent OSFC News
On Tuesday, September 30, the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission (OSFC) approached Midview with a proposal that makes the passage of Issue 39 even more critical in November.
A new funding option through the “Segment” program allows credits from the construction of the three new elementary buildings to be used towards the district “Master Plan.” Midview taxpayers have $22,044,000 in “credits” to use toward new school buildings.
After voting day on November 4th, the Midview School Board will be better able to concentrate on the OSFC offer, and plans to meet with the community to discuss how they would like to use their credits for new construction in the district. Some of these options include:
- A new 7-8 middle school, which would cost $17 million (no new money would need to be raised);
- A new 9-12 high school (the district would need to raise an additional $10 through a bond issue on the ballot); or
- A combination of these two plans.
While the OSFC’s proposal is an exciting one, currently the district must focus on the passage of Issue 39. This 2.5 mill Permanent Improvement Levy is critical to help stave off difficult cuts and allows the district to keep the programs, teachers and technology Midview’s students need to succeed. PI can only pay for investments like up-to-date textbooks, modern classroom technology, maintained facilities and safe student transportation. By law it cannot pay for salaries.
Without more funds, the district will need to cut an additional million dollars from the already bare bones budget, laying off teachers and tutors, postponing the integration of today’s classroom technology, and not replacing textbooks that are more than 15 years old. These cuts would devastate our schools and would hurt our community.
For more information on Issue 39, please visit the levy website at www.midviewyes.org.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION:
“If you have this money from the OSFC, do you still need levy money from Issue 39?”
The answer is Yes. These are two separate funding areas requiring two separate “pots” of money, and monies from each are purposed exclusively for the items listed below:
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- Money from the OSFC can only be used for new construction of school buildings. Nothing else.
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- Issue 39 is a Permanent Improvement levy which can only be used to purchase items with a lifespan of 5 years or more: items such as textbooks, classroom technology, and school buses.
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Think of it. If Issue 39 does NOT PASS in November, the Board must make an additional $1 million in cuts. Since the district is already working from a bare bones budget, those cuts will have to come from things which will affect the educational program: things like teachers, tutors, and programs which are the heart of what we do.
What good is a new school building without these things???
That is why it is absolutely essential that Issue 39 pass in November.
10/3/08 Chronicle Telegram Article On this Issue
