By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MILFORD - Milford Exempted Village School District is pinning its hopes on a 5.9-mill operating levy to keep its "excellent" rating from the state and reduce class sizes in its four new elementary schools.

The permanent levy, which would generate about $4.6 million a year, is expected to last three years. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay an additional $206a year.

"The money will be used to maintain current programs that have allowed the school district to reach its 'excellent' status," Superintendent John Frye said.

For two years, the district has achieved the top rating on the state's Local Report Card.

Part of the money would be used to employ 18 teachers and support staff, to appropriately staff the four new elementary schools being built as a result of a successful bond issue two years ago, Frye said.

As the district moves to six K-6 elementary buildings, it wants to reduce class sizes, which range from 22-23 in lower primary grades and 25-30 in grades 5-6.

"Our target is to get to 22 in K-3 and 24 in 4-6, but we've had facility limitations that haven't allowed us to add teachers," Frye said.

"What we've had to do is add instructional aides to support teachers with large classes. So the new classrooms allow us to adequately staff the buildings to get those toward those target class sizes."

In addition, levy money would enable the 6,006-student district to add three teachers, a guidance counselor and administrator at the high school to address the needs of ninth-graders.

Like other districts, Milford has been affected by state budget cuts. If the levy fails, a deficit of $3 million would occur in fiscal year 2005.

"If it fails, in order to maintain programs, we would have to cut $3.1 million and then pass 8.7 mills and suffer through a year's loss of those programs before we might be able to restore them. And that's our great challenge," Frye said.

Tom Daubenmire, chairman of the Partnership for Milford Schools - the levy campaign committee - said the levy is needed.

Marlene Kober, however, has a handmade "Vote No" sign in her Union Township yard.

"I'm dead set against it," she said. "I pay $1,600 a year in (school) taxes, and my husband is retired. I'm sick to death every time you turn around to take a breath, Milford wants another levy. They don't need to build Taj Mahal schools."

The levy campaign committee attributed February's levy loss to low voter turnout.

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com