NEWTON FALLS SCHOOLS Ex-mayor says board isn't promoting levy

There will be a meeting for residents to voice their concerns.
By ERIC GROSSO
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEWTON FALLS -- The village's former mayor says he won't head a school levy committee because the school board isn't helping to get out information on the issue.
Discussion about the upcoming levy sparked debate among teachers, parents and city council members Wednesday.
The 5.42-mill levy will be voted on in the March 2 election.
The board of education had hoped to form a levy committee in order to gain support for the levy. But former Mayor Patrick Layshock declined the offer to be chairman of that committee.
Layshock's decision came after meeting with the board of education and determining that it was not working toward presenting a positive image of the levy to the public.
Layshock said he had repeatedly asked the board for information on the school budget deficit so that he could accurately relay that information to the public.
He hoped by having correct information from the board, he could help rally support for the levy, which would help the Newton Falls School District fight its financial troubles.
Didn't receive information
He said the board did not provide him with the information. Without the correct information, the former mayor said it would be unfair to present it to the public.
"You only have one chance to do it right. If you do it right, I will chair it," Layshock said.
Catherine Namesnik, board president, acknowledged that the board had not been actively supporting the levy.
"We hope that we can present it differently than past boards have. As of Jan. 8, the board has not publicly pursued the levy," Namesnik said.
Namesnik also said that they hoped a volunteer would have stepped up by the end of January so they would not have to spend school funds on the committee.
The board will have an informal meeting with no special agenda as in regular meetings. The meeting will be a chance for the residents to voice their concerns about the district.
The meeting will be held in the auditorium of the high school during the week of Feb. 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. Residents are urged to call or check the school calendar to find the exact date of the meeting, which has not yet been announced.
The school board also announced a revision to the board of education code.
Pupils who move during the school year can now finish out the school year in Newton Falls if moving to another district.