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Walk to promote McDonald levy
By Mary Smith
McDONALD
Supporters will be walking from Roosevelt School around town and back, starting at 6 p.m. Sunday, promoting the school district’s 10.75-mill, five-year emergency levy.
The levy, which is to generate $580,000 annually, is expected to help offset the $509,000 the district has lost in federal stimulus money and federal education jobs money, which was used specifically to pay teachers.
Treasurer Brian Stidham explained the district already has projected a total of 15 percent in funding cuts from the loss of the stimulus and jobs money and anticipated state cuts.
The levy is intended to cover the expected losses.
The walk will go on rain or shine, and will include 4,813 steps or approximately 2.1 miles.
The 4,813 steps represent one step for each graduate from McDonald schools starting in 1921, which had three students, all girls.
The goal is that “Waves of Blue” will make its way through the village showing multigenerational support for the schools, according to walk organizer Chris Rupe.
Rupe is a high school science teacher and is boys cross country coach. Those participating are asked to wear blue, white or gold. Those participating can walk the entire route or only part of it, if they wish.
The walkers will go from the Roosevelt playground to Dakota Avenue, turn right on the sidewalk to Fifth Street, then right to Illinois Avenue, left on Sixth Street to Washington Avenue, then right on New York Avenue, right onto Ninth Street, left on New Jersey Avenue, right onto Marshall Road, right onto Ohio Avenue, left on Ninth Street, right on Iowa Avenue, left on Eighth Street, right on Florida Avenue, left on Seventh Street and return to the Roosevelt playground.
Stidham said the district cannot be released from state fiscal emergency until it can prove it can give a five-year forecast in the black. This would be accomplished with the levy, he said.
Staffing cuts have been made to reach more than $850,000 in annual savings over the past 18 months, he explained. In addition, there are cost reductions in maintenance and utilities; the indoor swimming pool is closed; contracts with teaching and nonteaching staff are renegotiated to reduce costs, and there’s a reduction to a part-time superintendent.
Efforts to cut costs are ongoing, Stidham said. “We look at it every day.”
Placing the levy on the ballot had to be approved by the State Financial and Plannning Commission appointed to oversee all board action while the district is under fiscal emergency.