March 24, 2011
School cuts predicted even if levy passes By TOM SHEEHAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Even if voters approve a combination three-year, 7.9-mill operating levy and no-new-millage bond issue in May, Olentangy school officials said about $4.4million in cuts must be made for the next Wade school year. Lucas
Superintendent Wade Lucas detailed those cuts and cost-saving measures at the March 16 school board meeting. He stressed that the reductions would not affect academic programs.
Up to 18 certified or teaching positions would be eliminated, along with 14 custodial jobs and 2.5 administrative jobs, saving an estimated $1.8-million, Lucas said. Some of the jobs would be lost as the result of attrition, or not filling vacancies. That is the case with the administrative positions. Two administrators left this year and another job be-
came part-time, resulting in an overall savings of $232,000 in salaries and benefits. The district could save an estimated $2-million by reducing its costs of employee salaries and benefits. The superintendent said that Senate Bill 5, which would severely restrict public employee collective bargaining and which cur-
rently is being debated in the Ohio House, will be a significant factor. “What are the effects of Senate Bill 5 and how is this going to affect us? ... We can’t get real specific” until a final version of the bill is acted on by the legislature, Lucas said. “But we have to adSee SCHOOL CUTS, page A2
Area braced for reductions in two-year state budget By BONNIE BUTCHER and SARAH SOLE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Local government, school and library officials say they are prepared for cuts in state funding included in Gov. John Kasich’s two-year state budget. Ohio has an $8-billion budget deficit. The budget proposal would reduce money received by local governments, school districts and health-care providers, among others — falling from $665million this year to $339-million in 2013. Olentangy schools Olentangy Local Schools officials budgeted for a 30-percent reduction in state funding. School board member Scott Galloway said he was glad the district planned for a large cut. District treasurer Becky Jenkins said, “There’s not enough detail in (Kasich’s) budget to know the full impact.” Photos by Chris Parker/ThisWeek
Third-graders Brianna Cruz and Anna Barstow, dressed as Queen Nefertiti and King Tut, speak about the history of Egypt to Katelyn Wagner and Alessandra Jesus at Arrowhead Elementary School. (Below) Fourth-grader Daniel Calomino, portraying King George, talks to fifth-graders Andrew Scheid and Zach Shockcor about Valley Forge and the former king of England. Fifteen students from the advanced English-social studies classes showcased projects March 17.
Arrowhead students showcase history By BONNIE BUTCHER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
History came to life at Arrowhead Elementary School as 15 students in the advanced English-social studies classes showcased projects March 17. Fourth- and fifth-grade students in Carol Strip Whitney’s classes researched a famous person and an important event from the Revolutionary War. Two of Whitney’s third-grade students presented projects on famous people in ancient Egypt. The students studied their state-required gradelevel curriculum standards rigorously, including considerable writing and research, Whitney said. The showcase was the culminating event of the students’ study and research. Each student had a tri-fold display detailing his or her work and also dressed as the person studied. “I’ve done it a long time and I’ve learned that when you can breathe life into the curriculum where the students feel like they’re experiencing it themselves, they have a lot more excite-
City of Powell Powell has braced for decreases in revenue from the state, said Debra Miller, city finance director. “The Local Government Fund has experienced many changes during the last decade, including changes to the formula and freezes. The city has taken the position to budget for a lower amount than what is actually anticipated. Also, the city took into consideration the possibility of cuts based on information received in 2010,” Miller said. In 2011, Powell anticipates receiving around $284,000 but budgeted for $266,000, Miller said. “Based on the proposed cuts to LGF, the city would see an estimated decrease of $35,000 (for the period July-December 2011) and $70,000 in calendar year 2012. Since the city already anticipated a decrease, the city probably will only see the effects of a $17,000 decrease.”
See ARROWHEAD, page A2
Southwest corner of Home Road and 315
Liberty hear objections to residential proposal By BONNIE BUTCHER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Liberty Township trustees on March 16 heard objections to a proposed residential rezoning from about 30 residents. Trustees held a hearing on a request to rezone 216 acres from farm residential to planned residential on the southwest corner of Home Road and state Route 315. The property’s
address is 7547 state Route 315. If trustees approve the rezoning, The Edwards Land Co. Ltd. plans to create 148 single-family lots with 103.4 acres of reserve green-space area. Residents who complained said the development would create traffic congestion, reduce property value, and increase the need for and cost of government services. The hearing will continue at 7:30
p.m. Monday, April 4, at the township hall, 7761 N. Liberty Road. Trustees continued the hearing to learn why Delaware County engineer Chris Bauserman’s office denied the development access to Home Road. The development plan shows access to state Route 315 and connections to residential roads in the area, such as Woodland Hall Drive, which currently dead ends.
Some residents of those roads said they don’t want the connections, which will bring more traffic. Trustees said about eight years ago the township put signs on the ends of those roads, indicating they would connect to other roads in the future. Residents opposing the rezoning said they preferred one-acre lots per residence and the proposed develSee LIBERTY, page A3
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Townships Kasich’s budget proposal would cut the Local Government Fund by 25 percent each year of the biennium budget. Liberty and Orange townships receive relatively small amounts in government funding, about $30,000 annually for each. That would fall to about $22,000 for 2012 and $15,000 for 2013. Township officials say they don’t rely heavily on state revenue and have budgeted for decreases. “Orange Township does not receive a large LGF allocation,” trustee Jennifer Christian said. “We are fortunate that this decrease does not have a major impact on our ability to plan for the provision of services to residents.” Liberty Township fiscal officer Mark Gerber said the loss of the revenue will require trimming the township’s expenses, but the amount is small enough to be absorbed. “It’s been dropping over the last few years,” Gerber said. “It’s not too large an amount; we can tighten the belt.”
Delaware County Delaware County commissioner Dennis Stapleton and administrator Tim Hansley briefly addressed the budget cuts during a Delaware Area Chamber of Commerce function on March 17. Hansley said the $2.2-million the county receives in local government funds is a small portion of the county’s overall funding. He said the county had initially anticipated a local government fund of $1.1-million. In preparing for budget cuts, the county has to either reduce services or increase revenue, he said. While Hansley was confident that 2012’s budget wouldn’t require any major changes, See BRACED FOR REDUCTIONS, page A5
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