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Medina schools discuss next steps following levy passage

Medina schools discuss next steps following levy passage

MEDINA, Ohio – An $8 million reduction plan approved for next school year will likely be rescinded following the passage of the Medina City Schools’ levy.

According to final but unofficial results from the Medina County Board of Elections, the 7.5-mill, 10-year emergency operating levy was approved by voters 13,255 votes (50.46 percent) to 13,011 votes (49.54 percent).

“We are all in appreciation mode, but we still have a lot of work to do,” Superintendent Aaron Sable said. “I know this was a difficult decision for much of our community and we are sensitive to that. We want to collaborate with our whole community to work for a change in school funding. I am happy that our community feels our schools are important to maintain the structure and tradition that we have here.”

Board of Education President Jeanne Pritchard said she expects that during the November board meeting, the board will rescind its motion to enact an $8 million reduction plan that was set in place for next school year.

“So whatever you see today within the schools, we will be able to keep,” she said. “We will now be able to keep bussing for the high school, neighborhood elementary schools, the gifted program and AP course offerings. This also means we can save roughly 100 positions within our school district which is important since the schools are the community’s second largest employer. The cuts we made last year, we were able to do through attrition.”

Sable said the district can begin collecting on the levy in January. The levy is expected to generate roughly $14.4 million annually and will cost the owner of a $100,000 property $263 per year.

As the district moves forward, Sable said he, along with the board of education and treasurer David Chambers will continue to work for change at the state level. He said the district works with different statewide groups that represent Medina City Schools and other school districts within Ohio in an effort to lobby for school funding reform.

“As I have said before, we don’t have a spending problem, we have a funding problem,” Sable said. “We will work hard to advocate for Medina when it comes to state funding.”

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