Sunday, July 30, 2000
Norwood Grade: B+
LEVY REQUEST: A 7.68-mill emergency operating levy to raise $2.4 million annually for five years. It includes renewal of an expiring levy equal to 2.7 mills which raises $868,000 a year and an additional 4.98 mills to raise $1.6 million a year. It will cost the owner of an $84,000 home, typical in the district, an extra $128 in taxes.
OTHER LEVIES: In 1996, voters renewed a 6.72-mill, five-year operating levy; in 1995, they passed a 3.4-mill emergency levy (now effectively 2.7 mills because of increased property valuation) that expires this year. Its renewal is part of this levy request.
IF LEVY PASSES: It will pay for inflationary increases in current operations, provide 3 percent raises and more training for teachers, staff.
IF LEVY FAILS: Yet undetermined cuts will be made to balance budget; voters likely will be asked to approve it again in November.
Our recommendation: There are many positive changes in this district since we visited in 1996. Public trust was shaken then by political infighting that led to resignations of a long-time superintendent and others, then resignation of another superintendent a year later. There was fighting, too, over spending decisions, including the high school's famed planetarium.
With so many distractions, students' low achievement, aggravated by poverty and other learning barriers common to urban communities, got too little attention.
No more. With the January appointment of Barbara Rider as superintendent, a new board and a state-mandated improvement plan, things are looking up in this three-square-mile district that's surrounded by the city of Cincinnati.
Attention and resources now are focused on raising academic achievement.
The district met 13 of Ohio's 27 minimum standards; improving scores will move it up in the next rating. The new Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) identifies shortcomings, resources, and actions to improve scores in reading, science and math. It includes specialized training for teachers, and more early intervention for struggling students.
Financially, a new arrangement with a foundation limits district spending for the planetarium to to $32,000 instead of $180,000 a year. With declining enrollment and a looming budget deficit when a levy expires in December, the board cut $1.15 million from next year's budget before it asked for the current levy.
Buildings are old, but well furnished and maintained. Computers are prevalent and used for classroom learning, remedial tutoring and skills classes.
Leaders have aggressively gone after federal, state, private and community grants for social, health and education programs addressing so-called “learning barriers” prevalent with low-come, urban students.
These cost local taxpayers nothing and address learning, social and cultural deficits that affect student learning.
A two-year-old alternative school site for 55-75 middle schoolers who are two or more years behind grade level already is keeping some children in school and improving their scores.
Since the General Motors plant closed in 1987 and left a $2 million-plus hole in the tax revenues, Norwood schools have depended on state and federal tax money for about half their budget. Property values (taxing capacity) should increase some with new businesses the next few years at Rookwood Center, although increases are limited because of heavy abatements.
The school tax rate is relatively low, but so is the income of residents. Civic pride and school support are historically good. Schools have had money, but heretofore lacked the will or leadership to tackle the intractable achievement and basic literacy problems.
The district seems to have turned the corner. With new leadership, Norwood is embracing academic and fiscal responsibility head on without excuses.
It's good news for voters. They should confidently vote yes on this levy.
