Failure of levy deals a blow to Bristol

The oversight commission's next meeting is Nov. 16.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
BRISTOLVILLE -- The Bristol School District owes the state money so it must return to the ballot in light of a levy defeat Tuesday.
"We're under the auspices of the state because of the fiscal emergency," said Dr. Marty Santillo, superintendent.
Voters rejected by 43 votes a 5.5-mill levy Tuesday that would have generated about $400,000 annually.
"We borrowed money from the state; we have to go on the ballot," Santillo said.
The state declared the fiscal emergency status more than a year ago citing a projected deficit, and a commission was appointed to oversee district finances. The commission borrowed $785,000 from the state solvency assistance fund last year and is in the process of repaying it.
The state auditor's office has forecast a $718,000 deficit by the end of the fiscal year and at a meeting last week, commission members voted to request up to that amount from the solvency fund. That amount also would have to be repaid.
Renewal levy
Besides the additional money, a levy that generates about $330,000 annually for the district is up for renewal next year.
If voters had passed the 5.5-mill additional levy this week, the district would have begun collections next year. Even if an additional levy passes in 2005, collections wouldn't begin until 2006, so the district would likely have to request higher millage because of the compounding debt.
Santillo had talked about the possibility of the district's dissolving if levies are repeatedly rejected. A representative from the Ohio Department of Education told district officials at a town meeting last month that because the state would likely lend the additional money, the threat of dissolution was probably years away.
"We'll probably go to state minimum standards, which could be bad for the students, especially high school," Santillo said.
Busing
The state minimum busing requirement means no kindergarten-through-eighth-grade pupils living within a two-mile radius of school will be bused. There isn't a state minimum for busing high school students.
Earlier this year, the district had opted to eliminate high school busing but decided against it because of the area of the district and some of the road conditions.
Scaling back to state minimum also would mean eliminating electives for high school students.
That could put Bristol students at a disadvantage when competing for jobs with graduates of other, more prosperous schools that maintain varied curriculum.
The commission's next meeting is Nov. 16.
The district has instituted cuts to address the fiscal condition including closing the elementary school, instituting pay-to-participate, eliminating some positions and instituting a cost-of-living pay freeze for employees.
A first-year Bristol teacher earns $26,000 annually, one of the lowest salaries among Trumbull school districts, Santillo said.
Four former Bristol teachers went to other districts this year and each earns more money, one about $10,000 more annually, the superintendent said.
denise_dick@vindy.com