WESTERN RESERVE Board to try again for levy

The board has made cuts in response to previous levy failures.
By JoANN JONES
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BERLIN CENTER -- Maybe the third time will be a charm for the operating levy the Western Reserve Local Board of Education will place on the ballot.
In a 12-minute session Thursday at the high school, the board voted to put a five-year, 5.6-mill levy on the November ballot. It would raise $425,000 a year to operate the district's three schools. The Mahoning County auditor's office determined the millage amount after school officials established the amount of money the district needs to avoid a deficit in 2005.
"People have to realize the state is not going to step in and fix this -- not at Western Reserve or in any district," Superintendent Charles Swindler said.
The district had placed a 4-mill levy on the ballot last November, which would have generated $300,000 annually. It failed. A 5.7-mill operating levy on the ballot in March also failed.
Position cuts
As a result, the board immediately made cuts by not filling assistant coaching positions for spring sports and then last month did not fill two more assistant positions for fall sports. Board members also raised lunch prices in March to reduce the amount of money that is taken from the general fund at the end of the fiscal year to balance the lunchroom fund. Swindler said he is gathering the information to show residents other cost-cutting measures the district has taken.
In personnel action, the board accepted the resignation of elementary and middle school guidance counselor Dan Ewing, who will take a similar position in another district. It also gave teacher Steve Miller, who had been placed on the Reduction in Force list, a one-year contract. Swindler said Miller had completed required hours for his certification, which made him eligible for his position.
Holly Heikkinen of Austintown was hired as junior varsity volleyball coach at a stipend of $3,187.