LORDSTOWN Panel probes impact of levy loss on Nov. 6

The school district has the second lowest millage in Trumbull County.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- If voters defeat the five-year, 6-mill school levy on the November ballot, the district will face cuts of extracurricular activities and reduced bus service.
"We will be a shell of a school district with a balanced budget," said Superintendent Ray Getz.
The discussion came at meeting of the levy committee conducted after a school board meeting Wednesday. The committee, including parents, teachers, school board and administration members, is sending fliers to district residents, informing them about the levy.
Millage: The literature points out that the district has the second lowest millage in Trumbull County. Howland has the lowest. Levy passage would move it to the fifth lowest.
The district has been in fiscal emergency for the past 10 months. A state oversight commission is overseeing district finances.
The levy would raise about $770,000 annually for the financially strapped district, which already has made reductions to cut expenses. Voters rejected a 10.2-mill levy in May.
The millage sought was reduced because at the time the board voted to place the levy on the May ballot, the board and state commission had not authorized staff reductions. The district had to file paperwork with the board of elections in February to get on the May ballot.
Since then, about $500,000 has been trimmed from the district operations budget, officials said.
Lettermen: In other business, athletes won't be the only students wearing letter sweaters at the high school.
The board passed resolution endorsing an academic letter program at the school. People Interested in Education, a school group, will pay the cost of the letters for the first two years.
Under the program, proposed by principal Larry Crawford, pupils in grades seven through 12 who maintain a 3.2 grade point average over the school year will earn an academic letter.
The pupil will earn a letter the first year of their accomplishment and gold bars for each additional year.
Board members also approved a resolution rehiring Mark A. Ferrara, district treasurer, for four years, beginning Jan. 1. He'll earn $52,000 annually. The board hired Ferrara two years ago.
dick@vindy.com