| Did you see the District Newsletter this past week on ParentSquare? In case you didn’t: …I want to let you know that Monday night, the Board of Education reviewed the list of cuts that were approved in March of 2023 (if new money is not passed by November of 2023). After much discussion, the Board decided to amend and reduce the list originally approved last March. The reason for this change is because the additional state funding received in the new biennium budget improved the district financial picture enough to keep us out of the red in the five-year forecast. This additional money in state funds was the reason the board was able to approve a lesser request for a levy on this November ballot (the 4-mill property levy that is on the November ballot is lesser in comparison to the 1% earned income tax request in May). While the additional state funding keeps us out of the red in the five-year forecast, the increase is not enough to keep us off the ballot because it doesn’t leave us with Board approved cash balances, which is why we are still on the ballot in November and why additional spending cuts were approved. The original spending cuts approved in March were to be enacted in the 2024-2025 school year if new money is not approved by November of 2023. Those spending cuts totaled about $2.8 million and consisted of: the reconfiguration of Demmitt and Helke Elementary, reducing transportation from the current 1-mile radius to the state minimum 2-mile radius, as well as reductions in elective classes at Morton and Butler, the reduction of specials at the elementary buildings, and counseling services in the district, to name a few. The new cost reduction plan approved Monday evening totals about $1.2 million (reduced from the original $2.8 million), and consists of:Reconfiguration of Demmitt and Helke which would reduce 3 teaching positions.Reducing 1 teaching position at Smith (due to lower projected enrollment next year). Elimination of 1 section per year of textbook adoptions.Elimination of 1 Operations position.Exploration of a Labor Day to Memorial Day school calendar (which we anticipate could save a couple hundred thousand dollars in if we moved to this calendar).Pursuit of other opportunities to capture savings through attrition.These spending cuts would go into effect for the 2024-2025 school year if new money is not approved in November. The Board also discussed that if the levy fails in November, we will pursue a levy request in the May election. State Funding Advocacy Also, on a slightly different topic, in addition to this data that we continue to share, according to data compiled from the Ohio Dept. of Education’s District Profile Report as of FY2022:1. VBCSD ranks 25th in lowest funded districts per pupil out of 25 districts in both Montgomery and Miami Counties.2. VBCSD ranks 68th in lowest funded districts per pupil out of 69 in our entire Miami Valley region.3. VBCSD ranks 36th in lowest funded districts per pupil out of all 613 public school districts in the state. In further investigating our rank as 36th lowest state funded district per pupil out of the 613 districts in the state, we have also discovered that in comparison to this group of 36 lowest funded districts, we have the 5th lowest Ohio Median Income, we have the 3rd lowest Federal Average income, and we are the 5th highest economic disadvantaged district in this group. All this shows – we don’t belong in this group! We are not funded appropriately by the state. We continue to make our case and advocate further with the state and county auditors. We will continue to update you on this topic until we have a resolve or further answers. Mr. Beavers and I have more meetings and follow ups planned and in the works. Paid for by Citizens for Education |
ICYMI: District Newsletter
October 8th, 2023 
vbadmin 
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