By Gina Buccino
Enquirer contributor

MORROW - Some Little Miami Schools families will be getting money back early next year.

That's one of the benefits of last month's voter passage of a 6.9-mill operating levy that's allowing the schools to bring back services that were part of $1.8 million in budget cuts the board enacted when a levy was defeated in May.

Superintendent Ralph Shell said school buildings have already been re-opened for after-school activities and the pay-to-play fees were halted. He said students who have already paid to play will be reimbursed in early February and March.

Part of the budget cuts forced high school students to pay $200 per sport, junior high students $185 and band members $135.

"Paying to play was not the thing that held me back the most, although it did affect many students here," said student Stephanie Journeay. "I think a lot more students will participate in the spring sports now that it passed. Sports are a big part of our school, but I am happy that the academic parts will be better off now that it passed."

Liz Gloshen, who has two children at Maineville Elementary, said she is disappointed that 49 percent of the voters still did not think the issue was important enough to vote yes in the election. Mrs. Gloshen, who worked on the levy campaign, said she is concerned about this rapidly growing school district, which includes Morrow, Maineville and Butlerville, because there is not much industry to lessen the tax burden on residents.

The schools also have resumed field trips for students since the levy passed. Mr. Shell hopes the school board will consider and approve textbook purchases and hiring teachers and staff.