Trumbull County schools deserve support of voters

While there are seven school districts in Trumbull County seeking voter approval of levies in the Nov. 8 general election, one in particular illustrates why citizen support of public education is so important.
In December 2000, the state declared the Lordstown district to be in fiscal emergency. That resulted in a special fiscal oversight commission taking control of the schools finances.
In other words, school board members who were elected by the people of Lordstown found themselves having to follow the dictates of the commission. As any public official who has been exposed to such a takeover will attest, this is not a pleasant situation.
To erase a $1.3 million deficit, the district was forced to reduce spending by 32 percent, which required a cut in personnel costs of 36 percent. This budget balancing act was performed while making sure that the district's academic standing was not damaged -- it has an "academically effective" designation under the state proficiency test system -- and that the extracurricular activities students and parents have to come expect were maintained.
By any measure, it was an enormous challenge. In June 2003, the state lifted its fiscal emergency declaration after the district repaid a loan from the Ohio Assistance Fund and maintained a balanced budget with a carryover beginning in 2001.
Now, the district has two renewal levies on next Tuesday's ballot that would generate $1.61 million, which is 27 percent of its revenue. A rejection of either one would put the Lordstown schools in same financial bind it faced in 2000.
Tough decisions
Indeed, the Bristol school system is having to deal with the same tough decisions Lordstown confronted because it is in fiscal emergency. Bristol voters are being asked to renew a levy so the district can undertake permanent improvements to school buildings and purchase buses. There should be no doubt that defeat of the levy will be a major setback for Bristol.
We are well aware that times are tough and that an increasing number of voters are fed-up with taxes, but when the system of public education depends on the generosity of the citizenry, as it does in Ohio, there is no alternative.
We have been unyielding in our stand -- to the chagrin of some of our readers -- that we all have a responsibility to ensure that the Mahoning Valley's young people are well educated and are prepared to meet the challenges of the global economy. The days of graduating from high school and securing a good-paying factory job are long gone. What employers are now looking for is an educated workforce.
And that starts with our schools.
The Vindicator urges residents to support the following school districts by voting for the levies they have placed on the ballot:
ULordstown: 6.2-mill emergency to raise $841,327 annually; 5.7-mill to raise $770,000 a year and help it avoid an operating deficit.
UBristol: 2.5-mill, five-year renewal to raise $106,642 for permanent improvements and bus purchases.
UBrookfield: 7-mill, five-year new emergency to raise $919,452 annually to facilitate all-day kindergarten and other important programs.
UChampion: 8.1-mill, five-year additional emergency to raise $1.3 million a year.
UHubbard: 5.2-mill, five-year emergency renewal to raise $1.04 million annually.
UMaplewood: 6.9-mill, five-year additional emergency to raise $558,900 a year.
UMcDonald: 4.9-mill continuing replacement for permanent improvements. It will raise $248,462 and replace a 2-mill tax.