Ohio’s LYNDHURST — A levy that would keep the district solvent as it pursues building and educational enhancements will be presented to voters in the two cities by South Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools in less than two months.
At the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, August 19, Superintendent Dominick Kaple presented the Board with information about the Nov. 4 levy attempt and the SE-L District’s priorities for the upcoming academic year.
“I want to make clear to everybody, this is not easy, ever,” Kaple stated in reference to the 7.9-mill levy proposal. It’s never a good moment to be on the ballot, I always say.
Our communities have been amazing. They have offered assistance. They have always supported us, which is one of the many reasons I love this place. I have been here for ten years (he is starting his second year as superintendent after serving in different capacities).
I want you to know that we never impose a charge only for the sake of imposing one. We continue with a goal and an explanation for that levy. We would never continue only to request additional funding.
It’s a challenging aspect of the work, particularly given the restrictions that prohibit us from actively promoting or selling it. I can only present the evidence supporting that levy.
The 7.9-mill levy is divided into 1 mill for permanent improvements (PI) and 6.9 mills for general running expenses. The levy would bring in about $8 million a year for the district’s operating budget if it were passed.
In order to satisfy Stages 2 and 4 of the Master Facilities Plan, the PI 1-mill would produce about $1.1 million a year.
Kaple continued by saying, “But one promise I made is that if we’re going to be on the ballot, we’re going to be ready behind it,” which means we’ll be able to provide bold reasons to support our position. We will have a detailed strategy outlining our needs, the reasons for them, and our plans for the funds.
Kaple used a completed Master Facilities Plan, which describes the state of each school facility and what is required in each building to support academics and the arts, to illustrate those needs. The necessary modifications are also covered in the plan.
Each of the Plan’s four phases has particular priorities that, according to Kaple, demonstrate what we can do if the levy is approved.
The 7.9-mill levy would increase property owners’ monthly expenses by $23 for every $100,000 of appraised value if it were adopted.
You can view the Master Facilities Plan here, along with its phases and priorities.
Additionally, a levy fact sheet with answers to particular inquiries is available on the SE-L District website.
How levy monies would be used if authorized is the first question posed.
According to the response, if authorized, the money raised will go toward paying the staff, teachers, and programs that instruct over 3,000 children daily at SEL Schools.
The money raised would also go toward necessary repairs and improvements to district buildings, such as upgrading the nearly century-old Brush High School building, which houses the Performing Arts Center and serves students from all over the district, expanding the Career Technical Education (CTE) program, and converting the Southlyn property (1340 Professor Road) into a new preschool building to better serve the community’s need for high-quality preschool programming.
According to Kaple, he has also frequently been questioned about what would happen if the levy failed.
The District’s levy site said that SE-L Schools will be in the red by 2028 and face a $9.2 million budget deficit over the next two years.
According to the SE-L website, this would necessitate making cuts that would negatively affect the more than 3,000 students and families who depend on our instructors, staff, programs, teams, and clubs for instruction, enrichment, and future readiness.
Treasurer Joshua Hill informed the Board that the state places a district under fiscal caution after three years of negative spending. At that point, the state intervenes and asks the district how it intends to become viable.
If nothing changes, the state will then inform the district what it needs to do to turn a profit.
Hill stated that although we have always stated that we do not wish to use fear tactics, we are considering moving into that state oversight if this does not pass. That first year (of negative spending) will be upon us.
Go here to view all of the District’s levy questions and answers.
The SE-L Shool District receives $11.8 million, or 68.2 percent, of its funding locally, while the state average is 41 percent. According to Hill, SE-L Schools earn a lower amount of state funds than many other school districts since it is seen as an affluent district under the state’s financial formula.
The state of Ohio provides 18.9 percent of SE-L Schools’ budget, or $10.9 million, while the federal government provides 7.2 percent, or $3.8 million.
The remaining $2.2 million (5.7 percent) comes from other sources. The District presently has a total budget of $74.3 million.
Priorities
According to Kaple, transparency, visibility, and accountability will be at the core of the district’s strategic initiatives as the new school year begins.
“Those just aren’t buzzwords,” he continued.
He stated that the district has expanded its social media presence, sending out biweekly emails to all district parents and regularly sharing a newsletter with staff members. “We have to communicate at the highest level,” he added.
Regarding visibility, Kaple stated that every semester, all members of the district cabinet must attend two or three sporting events as well as a music or art event.
According to him, that is crucial since people must recognize our faces. They must have faith in our abilities to accomplish our jobs.
Speaking of accountability, Kaple stated that the State report card is the simplest way to gauge achievement. Our top public measure is that. Accountability also includes determining whether we are doing the tasks we have committed to.
According to Kaple, these priorities will form the basis for the introduction of a comprehensive strategic plan in the 2026–2027 academic year. This plan will not take the place of the existing 2023–2026 strategic plan.
The Sun Messenger has further information.
