Thursday, May 13, 1999
Fingers pointed over school levy failure
Springboro board dissects loss
BY MIRIAM SMITH
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SPRINGBORO — Eileen Hartlage wanted answers. She told Springboro Board of Education members during a heated discussion at Tuesday's board meeting she was angry taxpayers rejected the operating levy May 4.
The five-year, 4.6-mill measure would have generated $1.85 million annually and enabled the district to hire more staff so it could open the newly renovated Springboro Elementary School.
The levy failed, 53 percent to 47 percent, according to unofficial results.
RECENT DEFEATS
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Springboro voters have defeated three operating levies in the past two years.
Springboro's explosive growth — it added 160 students this year and was the seventh-fastest-growing in Greater Cincinnati over the past five years — has led to difficulties in keeping up with staffing demands, officials say.
On May 4, voters defeated a five-year, 4.6-mill emergency operating levy to generate $1.85 million by 218 votes, according to final, unofficial results.
Passage of the levy was needed to hire more staff so they could open the newly renovated Springboro Elementary School for fourth- and fifth-grade students. The district also wanted to reduce class sizes in the elementary schools and add new courses.
In November, voters defeated a 4.89-mill operating levy to generate $1.85 million over three years. The levy failed by 640 votes.
In May 1998, voters defeated one of two operating levies for the district. The 4.3-mill operating levy failed by 752 votes. |
Mrs. Hartlage, who will have three children in the schools this fall, joined a handful of other residents who spoke out Tuesday.
She said the board isn't upholding its “primary mission.”
“And that is to represent the children of this community, including mine, and to support the school staff in all possible ways,” she said. “The board's inaction during this levy was in itself a huge statement to anyone looking for a reason to vote no or not bother at all.”
Board members bickered, residents complained and all were searching for answers Tuesday about the levy's failure, the third operating levy to fail in Springboro in two years.
No one had any clear-cut answers on what went wrong. There was plenty of speculation.
Board Vice President Diane Trifiro said the board should have been more unified during the campaign.
She said Board President Bruce Blume didn't attend levy meetings and didn't consistently post campaign signs in his yard.
“As board members, we are obligated, when the vote is taken, to stand by that vote. If we can't speak for (it), who will?” she said.
But Mr. Blume said whether he posts a sign in his yard is “none of your business.”
He said he was supportive of the levy.
“I didn't realize I carried this much weight,” he said. “My God. I'm one of five (members). The sad thing is, if you want to blame me, go ahead and blame me. I didn't tell 2,200 people to vote against this thing. I don't vote against kids.”
Mr. Blume said the board needs to take a step back and “find out what's going on in the community.”
Board member Gary Ihle added, “When we start pointing fingers at board members, we're hurting this district very badly.”
He said over the last four to six weeks, he's been listening to residents' comments about the levy campaign.
He said he's heard concerns about whether the board can be trusted to spend money wisely. He's also heard about a perception the district is “top-heavy” in administration.
Superintendent Gary Meier received a 4 percent raise in November, making his base salary $97,240. Officials have said the raise was consistent with the 4 percent increase negotiated this year for all other district employees.
Mr. Ihle said some residents said they thought the third elementary school was “held hostage” because the board passed a resolution in January stating the building couldn't open if the levy didn't pass.
“It is my fervent hope and desire the board will take the time ... to listen to the people,” Mr. Ihle said.
Mr. Meier said Wednesday any decisions about where the district will go will have to be made by the board after a budget work session later this month or in June.
“It's not my decision. It is the decision of the board and finally of the community,” said Mr. Meier, who has been superintendent in Springboro since 1991. “I have said before that my job is to do the best we can with what we have. We'll continue to do that.”
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