School district to leave emergency status

STRUTHERS — The state auditor’s office is projecting a debt-free future for the city school district.

Struthers City Schools are expected to be removed from state-controlled academic emergency status after the release of a new five-year financial forecast ending in positive balances each year.

Nita Hendryx, of the state auditor’s office, credited personnel cuts and the passage of a 6.9-mill continuing tax levy in 2006 for remedying the district’s books.

School board members will meet with representatives of the state’s financial planning and oversight commission Tuesday for a final decision on whether the district’s finances will remain under state control.

“We’re thrilled,” said Sheri Noble, school board president. “I commend our administration for the hard work that they’ve done. It would not be possible without the levy and the community backing in support of the levy.”