Board approves tax levy on ballot

By ELISE FRANCO

This would be the first new revenue the Austintown district has had since 1996.

AUSTINTOWN — The board of education says it’s necessary to place a 4.9-mill, five-year tax levy on the ballot this fall.

A resolution for the issue was approved by the board Monday. Schools Superintendent Doug Heuer said that if passed, the levy could bring as much a $3 million per year into the school district.

He said the money would be used to deal with rising utility costs, as well as to fund repairs and the purchase of new equipment.

About $300,000 per year is designated for repairs and new equipment, Heuer said. “Especially technology-based equipment. We are concerned with making sure students have the equipment to learn in a quality, technology-based environment.”

Austintown has already made some cuts to help save money.

Heuer said with the closing of Davis Elementary and resignation or retirement of nine teachers, the district will save almost $1.5 million.

“We’ll save about $500,000 a year in costs to repair and maintain the building,” he said. “And the teachers were at the top of the salary schedules, so including benefits, we’re saving about $90,000 per teacher.”

The five-year levy will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $150 a year, according to the school district.

“This will be the first new revenue the district has had since 1996 if we are successful,” he said. “We’ve had renewals on old levies, but no new money.”

The board also approved the employment of three new teachers for the 2008-09 school year.

Joya Villani and Molly Hannis were hired on as third-grade teachers at Woodside Elementary on Elmwood Avenue. Bethany Batdorff, former teacher for the district, was hired as the assistant principal at Frank Ohl Intermediate School on Idaho Road.

After a presentation to the board, Zane Welsch, an Eagle Scout and pupil at Austintown Middle School, was given permission to begin planning a project to build a boardwalk from the school to wetlands on the property, as well as duck boxes and a potential study area.

Heuer said Welsch will be able to present the completed design for the project to the board for approval, and he will be given a letter from the superintendent’s office to show potential donors that this is a viable project.