South Range residents sound off at forum

March 10, 2011 at 12:03a.m.

By Karl Henkel

NORTH LIMA

Residents of the South Range School District sounded off at a community forum Wednesday night at the K-12 complex in Beaver Township amid concerns the district could introduce open enrollment, cut almost 30 members of its staff and possibly put a levy on November’s ballot.

Superintendent Dennis Dunham and Treasurer/CFO Jim Phillips outlined possible budget deficits, which could be as high as $2.1 million in 2013 and $5.9 million in 2014.

“It’s not a pretty picture,” Phillips said. “It’s not anybody’s fault. That’s just the way it is.”

Dunham said in the last three weeks he has spoken with 30 employees and told them their jobs are not assured next year and said the soonest a possible layoff notice would occur is April.

Phillips said the cuts would shave $500,000 in personnel costs.

One thing Dunham did assure: there won’t be open enrollment next school year, but depending on Gov. John Kasich’s proposed budget — to be revealed Tuesday — it is definitely a possibility in the future. Dunham also said he didn’t know how many additional students an open enrollment would draw.

The topic garnered a majority of the questions Wednesday night, and riled some, such as Rich Frenchak, 43, of North Lima.

“You get open enrollment out here, you’ll never pass a levy again,” Frenchak said.

A few of the couple hundred residents who attended were shocked when Phillips confirmed he, Dunham and the three school principals do not pay into the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio; instead, the district pays their share. Phillips said that was commonplace among administrators. Teachers in Ohio pay 10 percent of their salary and districts pay 14 percent.

Many other residents expressed concern over the district negotiating a new contract with teachers, and one person said she’d be more comfortable voting for a possible levy if the proper cutbacks were made first.

Phillips said there has been no decision to put a levy on November’s ballot, but that “the writing is on the wall.”