WESTERN RESERVE 5.7-mill school levy to be on ballot

Without the tax, the district will face a $525,000 deficit by 2005.
By JoANN JONES
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BERLIN CENTER -- Western Reserve School District voters will be asked to pass a 5.7-mill operating levy in March to offset a deficit in 2005.
Board of education members passed a resolution to place the levy on the March 2 primary ballot with a 4-0 vote Thursday at the high school. Board president Craig Myers was unable to attend.
A 4-mill operating levy failed Nov. 4. Without an increase in funding, the district, which finished the 2002-03 school year with an $800,000 carry-over, will face a $525,000 deficit by 2005, Superintendent Charles Swindler said.
"I don't know where we can cut any more," Swindler said after the meeting. "The state reduces our funds but still expects us to run the district."
He gave the board copies of a letter he sent to Susan Tave Zelman, state superintendent of public schools, in response to a request for documentation on measures the district will take to avoid the deficit.
His letter states: "The state Legislature has chosen not to follow the 2.8 percent increase mandated by the courts. The Legislature also cut our funding by 4.27 percent in [fiscal year 2005]. The Ohio Department of Education and the Legislature continue to add unfunded mandates."
He said the state should be required to come up with a plan to correct the school funding problem before local districts have to submit plans.
Personnel
In personnel action, the board hired high school teacher Paul Henderson as head baseball coach and district resident Joe Serensky Jr. as head softball coach.
Each will be paid $4,553 for the season. District resident Dale Moore was approved as an unpaid varsity baseball assistant coach, and Mike Fortunato of Canfield was approved as an unpaid junior varsity baseball coach.
At the November board meeting, the members decided not to fill the paid positions for assistant coaches for spring sports to cut costs.
District residents Tim Philibin and David Johnson were also approved as unpaid assistants to the Ski Club adviser.
"We're running these programs with volunteers or else we won't be offering them," Swindler said. "But I don't think that will be the case. Most of the [head] coaches have people who will volunteer."