Levy Information

The Mad River School District has placed a 5.9 mill Operating Levy on the March 6th, ballot. This ballot issue will be a defining one for our school district as its failure could be catastrophic to our students and our community.

Voting on the Levy
Local residents will have the opportunity to vote on the levy on Tuesday,
March 6, 2012.

Strong Schools Create a Strong Community
Strong schools are the backbone of a strong local community. Not only does a first-class education benefit students and their families, but a strong school system provides a direct benefit to the local economy and, therefore, to everyone living in the community.

Investing in our schools ensures that our community will retain the excellent quality and reputation that so many of us have come not only to love, but also to expect. Keeping our Mad River Local Schools moving forward will ensure that we have a strong community today and tomorrow.

Keep Us Strong. We’ve been watching what other communities go through when a levy doesn’t pass.  We don’t want to see that happen in Mad River. The passage of this important levy will allow us to continue moving forward.

Achievement and Opportunities
Advanced programs, numerous academic options and opportunities to excel in athletics, arts and other activities are among the main reasons our students have been so successful, and the main reason our community has been so proud of our school district.

Student Success
School districts rely on local support in order to create student success. Mad River Local Schools, which has a rich tradition of offering an outstanding education to its youth, is no different.
It is because of the continued support of our community that we are able to offer high quality education programs to our students.

General Information on the Levy

As a result of the two failed levies...
Our students are paying the consequences. For this year and last year combined, the district will be reducing a total of 77 positions. The reductions come from all areas with the largest percentage reduction from administration. We are reducing 5 ½ administrative positions, 53 teaching and other certified positions, 19 classified positions such as aides, secretaries, maintenance and custodial staff.

What happens if the levy doesn’t pass?
The consequences of this level of personnel reductions will be felt across the district in the form of fewer assistant principals to deal with student and discipline issues, fewer teachers mean fewer electives and classroom offerings, and larger class sizes. The loss of teaching aides means less help with special needs students, academic intervention for struggling students, and fewer maintenance and custodial staff will make it difficult to keep our buildings as clean and well-maintained as they always have been.

Why is it important to support the levy?
• Our school system is the foundation of our community
• Strong schools mean a strong community
• Protect our property values
• Prevent further reductions in educational offerings and programs

Why does the school district need to pass a levy?
• State funding has been reduced by over $2 million
• Property tax revenues have fallen by $700,000
• Expenses of the district are rising with inflation but our revenue is falling

What else is the district doing besides running a levy?
• Making $4 million in budget cuts for 2012-2013 school year
• Reduction of 77 employees
• Employees paying more toward cost of health insurance
• Employees receiving no raises
• Largest % of reductions in administration

How will the levy $$ be used?
The money received from an operating levy is used for day-to-day operating costs of the school district such as: 

   • textbooks and teaching supplies
   • computer technology
   • utilities and maintenance
   • school bus transportation
   • general classroom programs
   • teachers

• The district is spending more than it is taking in this year due to cuts in state funding and declining property tax revenues for the district.

• Our current year revenues are now expected to be $35.2 million and our expenses are $37.6 million, creating a $2.3 million budget shortfall for the 2011-2012 school year. The district is able to cover this deficit for the 2011-2012 school year with money it has in savings but this will be exhausted soon if the district does not balance its budget.

• The district has placed a 5.9 mill levy on the ballot again for the March 6th election day in an attempt to keep the district financially sound and to avoid having to make more cuts which affect our children’s future.

• If the levy does not pass, more cuts will be necessary. Additional cuts could mean the loss of more educational offerings like music, art, sports, and other extracurricular activities.