Avon Local Schools—the NEED is Real, the TIME is Now!

AVON’s operating levy– Vote Yes on August 3rd

Paid for by the Avon School Levy Committee, 3rd3rd709 N. Fall Lake Drive, Avon OH 44011  Dave Bowen, Treasurer

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Voting YES, voting NO or not voting – PLEASE READ

 

Based on the questions received and incorrect information that has appeared in editorials, the Levy

Committee would like to provide the some of the facts again to clear up some of the misunderstanding.

 

Current District Facts

· Simply put, the reason for the levy is the additional students resulting from Avon’s growth.  The

· district added 800 students in the past four years.  An additional 600-700 are expected in the next

· 5 years at a cost of approximately $8,000.00 per student.  This is the first new money levy since 2006.

· Per state law (HB920), the schools receive no additional funding from new houses built or new

· retail stores put in.  This has been found unconstitutional.  The local School Board is supporting

· the state-wide school effort to solve this, but until changed, local taxes are the primary source of

· funding.

· $1.2 million in budget cuts have been made including:  not hiring a needed 6 additional teachers

· (despite adding 200+ children), teacher base salary freeze, elimination of high school busing, delay

· of updating textbooks, administration pay freeze and pay-to-participate fees.  This allows for the

·  schools to not ask for an additional new money levy in 2011 as a trade-off.

The district spends less per student than every school in Erie (7 districts), Huron (7), Ashland (4),

Medina (7) and Cuyahoga (31) counties and less than any comparable district in Lorain County (13).  The comparison after the $1.2 million in cuts:

Avon Lake                              $10,334                    Excellent with Distinction

Lorain                                      $10,410                    Academic Watch

Elyria                                       $  9,886                    Continuous Improvement

Sheffield/Sh-Lake                 $  9,536                    Effective

North Ridgeville                    $  8,953                    Effective

Clearview                                $  7,956                    Continuous Improvement

Avon (est. after cuts)           $ 7,730                     Excellent with Distinction 

· We provide an excellent education while using less staff and administration (verified by the state). 

· Our teacher compensation is average when compared to other districts in the area and the state.

With the $1,200,000 in cuts made, the school district can achieve a positive break even balance in the

forecast with the passage of this levy.  Voting for the 5.9 mill levy in 2010 has been evaluated as the

lowest total cost to the taxpayers of any of the options considered to keep the district solvent.

 

 

 

I don’t have children – why should I vote for this?

A top criteria for homebuyers is the strength of the school system (even if they do not have children)

because of the impact on property value.  The cost of the levy on a $200,000 house over 10 years is

$3,600.  If the $200,000 house loses 5% of its value, the impact is $10,000.  Without passage, 5% will

 be an optimistic value.

 

Many have asked – what happens if it does not pass in 2010? 

Because of the loss of revenue in 2011, the total millage required to keep the district solvent will be

higher (>7 mill).  Further cuts will have to be evaluated, including:

· All busing for students who live within 2 miles of their school of attendance

· All extracurricular activities, including all athletics

· Further reduction in personnel (administration and teachers) resulting in class sizes of greater than 35

Reduction in instructional offerings and elimination of non-mandated services and activities

Some will claim these are just threats.  These are facts.  After 10 years of tight cost management, there

are few other places to cut.  In just over a year, the risk is real that the state could start getting involved.

 If the district cannot stabilize itself, the state will eventually take over control - cuts will be made and

 property values will drop.  Please do not choose this for the children of Avon.

 

Show your support and vote yes on August 3^rd.  The need is real and the time is now.

 

Respectfully,

The Avon Levy Committee - www.supportavonschools.com

 

 

Parents and citizens of Avon, we need your support more than ever.  With the defeat of the school levy on May 4th, the Board has been put into a position to take actions that regretfully, will impact the students, parents and staff of the district.  We are asking for your support on August 3rdrd as it is vital to the ongoing operation of the schools, the success of our children and our community's future.

 

As always, we welcome input, comments and questions from the citizens of Avon.  The Avon Levy Committee is again looking for volunteer support.  We welcome anyone to call, email or attend a school board meeting to raise any concern or show your support.  Everyone plays a role in our community and the education of our children.  We all need to understand just how important the passage of the levy is for the schools and our community.  We hope we can count on your support August 3rdrd, 2010.