The Experience Official Newsmagazine of Mariemont City Schools
OCTOBER 2018
NATIONAL RECOGNITION Page 3
LEVY FAQs Pages 4-7
Tradition.
Community.
A CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE Page 5
Innovation.
Why Maintain Excellence?
Simply stated, Issue 2 is a critical piece in deciding the future of the Mariemont City School District. As we inch closer to November 6, I want to reiterate my thanks to everyone who played a part in getting us to this point. Hundreds of community members volunteered their time and expertise along the two and a half-year journey in addition to the staff members and students who offered their input to the process. We asked for so much input because we knew we could not get this process right without it. We needed to hear from everyone and now it is because of your unwavering support that our school district is in a position to maintain its excellence for generations to come. We have been very open and honest about the needs of Mariemont High School and the financial situation we would face should Issue 2 not pass on November 6. In this edition of The Experience you will find a detailed Frequently Asked Questions document to answer the most common inquiries we have received along the way. Should you have any additional questions or comments, please do not hesitate to reach out.
treasurer’s
The issue is a combined 2.5-mill operating and 5.75-mill permanent improvement levy that will address both the facility and financial needs of Mariemont City Schools. Not only will it provide necessary renovations to Mariemont High School and security upgrades at all schools across the district, but it also will eliminate the need to make nearly $2 million in cuts and will fund the day-to-day operating expenses for the next four years.
update
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superintendent’s
It’s hard to believe, but we are mere weeks from the crucial November 6 election. Issue 2 represents two years of hard work by our entire community and I am confident it marries the wants of our residents with the needs of our school district and students.
The financial future of the Mariemont City School District is in the hands of the voters on November 6. We have reached a point in our financial story where action must be taken. Issue 2 will determine whether the district can continue to maintain its established excellence or whether it will face nearly $2 million in impending budget cuts to make up for the increasing mechanical and structural failures at Mariemont High School. The district has a fiscally responsible track record, as demonstrated by the funds from the 2014 levy which were promised to last three years and were stretched to four despite heavy budget cuts from the state. That management allowed us to place the smallest-ever operating request on the ballot, a 2.5-mil ask that would provide the day-to-day operating needs for all schools for the next four years. That, in combination with a 5.75-mill permanent improvement levy, would allow us to address the facility issues at Mariemont High School as well as secure our financial future for years to come. If Issue 2 does not pass, however, Mariemont City Schools will be forced to implement nearly $2 million in cuts that must be made in order to balance the budget moving forward. Staffing and programming across the district would look drastically different than it does today in order to combat these facility and financial issues. The extended Frequently Asked Questions document in this newsletter addresses many financial questions you may have. We believe in sharing information with our residents as we prepare for this crucial election on November 6.
Tom Golinar Treasurer/CFO
Steven Estepp Superintendent
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www.mariemontschools.org
Honors and Awards for Mariemont City Schools
Mariemont City Schools has a lot to celebrate this school year! For more information on any of these recognitions, visit our website at www.mariemontschools.org.
Mariemont Elementary Earns National Blue Ribbon Honors Mariemont Elementary was recognized by the United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2018. Blue Ribbon status is one of the most prestigious awards given by the U.S. Department of Education. Mariemont Elementary received the status of “Exemplary High Performing School.” Only 349 schools across the United States earned the honor in 2018.
Mariemont City Schools Earns National District of Distinction Honor Mariemont City Schools was honored as one of 44 districts from around the United States to earn a District of Distinction honor from District Administration magazine. Mariemont City Schools was recognized for its Warriors BEyond program which seeks to provide more experiential learning opportunities to students.
Terrace Park, Heather Alexander Earn Governor’s Award for Excellence in STEM Education Terrace Park Elementary School and sixth grade teacher Heather Alexander were honored by the Ohio Academy of Science with the Governor’s Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education for their accomplishments during the 2017-18 school year. In total, 61 Ohio schools and 672 teachers received the award for their work promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) in the classroom.
Ohio Department of Education Scores Mariemont Top in the State The Ohio Department of Education released the 2017-18 School Report Card and the Mariemont City School District received an overall grade of ‘A’. Mariemont was one of only 28 districts (out of over 600) throughout the state of Ohio to earn an overall grade of ‘A’ and ranked in the top 10 among all Ohio districts with a performance index of 107.265.
October 2018
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Facilities FAQs
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Why is this needed? Mariemont City Schools has been looking at the facility needs of the high school, ongoing maintenance issues at all schools across the district and the district’s overall financial picture for two years. The district has involved community members and industry experts to look at these challenges from every angle possible. The reality is that there will never be a better time to accomplish the goals identified by the community committee at a lower price. The community committee and the district both agree that band-aid fixes instead of long-term decisions that will extend the life of the high school are not a good use of taxpayer resources. In addition, without new operating dollars, nearly $2 million in cuts to staffing and programs will be made over the next two years. Action must be taken by voters now to ensure a stable revenue stream for both the day-to-day operations as well as the type of facilities students need to be competitive in education today and maintain the excellence that is Mariemont City Schools.
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Q
What’s on the ballot? Mariemont City Schools is asking voters for a combined 2.5-mill operating and 5.75-mill permanent improvement issue. The operating request is the lowest millage amount in the district’s history and is expected to meet the day-to-day operating needs in the district for the next four years. These funds pay for things such as teachers, utilities and supplies. The permanent improvement issue will address serious mechanical and structural repairs and renovations at the high school as well as provide security enhancements and ongoing maintenance support at all schools across the district. The replacements/renovations will maximize the investment in the high school and maintain the excellent quality of education for students.
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Why are the issues combined? The district can’t move forward without addressing both the day-to-day operating needs and the ongoing maintenance needs at the high school. It will cost at least $1 million per year in operating dollars if the facility needs at the high school are not addressed. In addition, the district has already stretched the previous operating levy an extra year despite significant losses in state funding. Both issues are needed in order to maintain the current level of excellence that exists in the schools.
Q
Where does the money go? Money from this issue will be used in two ways. First, the permanent improvement issue will address the significant issues at the high school. It will allow the district to make critical repairs and replacements to the plumbing and electrical systems, roofs and heating and air conditioning systems. By updating the academic areas of the high school, the district can offer spaces for project-based learning and update labs so that students can compete with their peers in other top school districts in Ohio and across the nation. In addition, security enhancements will be put in place at all schools across the district.
FAQ The operating dollars will be used to maintain the current level of excellent teachers and programs in the schools. Mariemont City Schools takes a conservative approach to strong fiscal management and directs nearly 70 percent of its funding into classroom instruction where it can do the most good. Without these funds, nearly $2 million in reductions will have to be made, including reducing teachers, staff and programs across the district. These are cuts that will impact the quality of education and reduce opportunities for students.
www.mariemontschools.org
Facilities FAQs
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How has the district maintained the investment in the high school building? Mariemont City Schools keeps a close eye on all of its school facilities. In 2008, the Ohio School Facilities Commission conducted a needs assessment of all schools in the district. Maintenance issues at the high school were identified, but larger issues were identified at the elementary schools and junior high school. A community committee decided to put those needs before voters and address maintenance needs at the high school using funds from the district’s operating budget. The committee also said that the needs at the high school would have to be addressed in the near future. The district has followed that directive and spent more than $2 million in updates, repairs and fixes to various systems throughout the high school building to keep it functioning and maintain the investment the community has made in the school. The Community Financial Committee and the Community Project Team are the latest community groups to review the needs at the high school and determined that the time to move from band-aid fixes to long-term replacement solutions is now.
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Qs
Is the district efficient with its resources? YES! Mariemont City Schools takes a conservative approach to strong fiscal management. That’s how the district was able to stretch the 2014 operating levy to last four years, one year longer than what was promised to the community. The district not only kept, but extended its promise despite also losing $1 million in state aid.
October 2018
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Facilities FAQs
Q
Why now? There is never going to be a less expensive time to address the needs at Mariemont High School. If the November 6 ballot issue is not successful, the district will lose out on an entire year’s worth of collections. The loss of one year’s additional revenue coupled with deficit spending would have to be offset by a larger operating levy request to maintain current staffing and programming. Added to that, construction costs go up too. Construction inflation is averaging around five percent right now. So, that, combined with new state regulations to go into effect next year would mean the price tag for a $43 million dollar project today jumps to $46 million in just one year.
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What do we get? If Issue 2 is approved by voters, then the district will have the necessary funds to maintain the current level of programs and staffing in all schools across the district for the next four years. In addition, the district will complete necessary mechanical and infrastructure repairs to the high school and replace/renovate portions of the school to provide a better academic experience for students. This will maintain the investment in that school. Also, all schools will receive security enhancements and benefit from ongoing maintenance repairs to protect the useful life of the buildings.
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Q
What happens if it fails? Then nearly $2 million in cuts to staffing and programs will be made over the next two fiscal years. These reductions will be felt across the district and impact all students and staff. The district wants to maintain the current level of excellence and avoid all of these budget reductions. However, if new funds are not secured, the district will be forced to bring the level of staffing and programs it offers in line with available revenue. You can find a complete list of the budget reductions plan online at www.mariemontschools.org.
FA
www.mariemontschools.org
Facilities FAQs
Q
Vote By Mail Did you know that you can cast your ballot for the November 6 Election by mail? Simply request your application for an absentee ballot by visiting www.myohiovote.com. Once your application arrives, send it in right away to receive your ballot. Complete your ballot, make sure you pay special attention to the instructions for signatures and dates, then mail it back to the Hamilton County Board of Elections. Be sure to get your ballot in early so it can be counted on Election Night.
What does it cost? The cost of the combined issue is $289 per year per $100,000 of property value. The Community Finance Committee as well as industry experts went over all the numbers to make this project as affordable as possible and stretch every single dollar to the limit.
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Are we getting a good ROI at Mariemont Schools? YES! Mariemont City Schools is one of the highest rated school districts in Ohio and is known nationally as well. The district provides an excellent value to residents. Mariemont Schools earned an overall “A” rating on the most recent Ohio Department of Education Local Report Card. Only 28 out of more than 600 school districts in Ohio earned this distinction. In addition, the district’s Performance Index score placed it in the top 10 school districts in Ohio. Mariemont Elementary School was just named a National Blue Ribbon School and Terrace Park Elementary was awarded the Governor’s Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education. Additionally, the district was named a District of Distinction by District Administration Magazine. Mariemont High School’s ACT scores are five points above the national average and the district has expanded learning opportunities for students so they are better prepared for college or the modern workforce after graduation.
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AQs October 2018
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12 Mariemont High School 8th Grade Open House | 6:00 p.m.
6 Election Day
5 Postmark deadline for Vote by Mail Ballot
2 Report Cards Available Online
1 Mariemont Junior High Fall Sports Awards | 7:00 p.m.
November
31 Mariemont Elementary Halloween Parade | 2:00 p.m.
31 Terrace Park Elementary Halloween Parade | 1:00 p.m.
27 Terrace Park Elementary Pumpkin Fest | 5:30-8:00 p.m.
26 End of First Quarter – Early Dismissal
24 State of the Schools “A Celebration of Excellence” | 7:00 p.m.
17 Mariemont High School Life & Leadership Speaker Series | 6:30 p.m.
15 Athletics Boosters Meeting | 7:30 p.m.
October
November 6, 2018
Remember to vote on
15 Board of Education Meeting/Work Session | 5:00 p.m.
14 Mariemont High School National Honor Society Induction Ceremony | 7:00 p.m.
2 Warrior Way | Cincinnati, Ohio 45227 www.mariemontschools.org
www.mariemontschools.org
UPCOMING DATES
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