By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

UNION TWP. - For the first time in 10 years, West Clermont Local School District will have a levy on the ballot.

"We knew we were going out for a levy in 2004. We did not anticipate it would be this high or this urgent," Superintendent Michael Ward said at a community levy meeting last weekend.

The 7.9-mill emergency levy would raise $9 million annually over the next five years. It would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $242.

Like other Ohio school districts, West Clermont has been hit by unexpected school funding cuts and a slumping economy.

If the levy doesn't pass, the district will have to make $3.182 million in cuts, including about 50 staff positions, mostly teachers; busing to public and private high school students; and all sports and extra-curricular activities.

One misconception, Ward said, is that the district can rely on the $1 million grant from the Gates Foundation to lift it out of financial doldrums. The five-year grant, awarded in 2000, is earmarked only for professional development and provides $100,000 annually for each high school campus.

West Clermont, with 9,000 students and 12 schools, is the largest school district in Clermont County. The state gives Summerside Elementary an "Excellent," the highest rating. Seven other schools are "Effective" and four are in "Continuous Improvement."

"We continue to raise the bar in this school district," Ward said. "We need the money to continue that work. ... If we want to be a premier school district, there's a price tag that comes with that."

Joel Steinmetz, who has three children in college, said he understands financial burdens and doesn't have the money for tax increases, but he's still supporting the levy.

"If we're going to make this a community we can all be proud of, we can't go backwards," the Amelia man said.

Bruce Ehas of Willowville has two children in the system, but said he's gotten small pay raises in the past few years and can't afford any tax increases. Senior citizens on fixed incomes are in a similar bind, he said.

He's had to make cutbacks in his spending, he said, and he expects the district to do the same whether the levy passes or not. "You have to be able to show you're scraping and scraping and then scraping some more," Ehas said.

Sara Gerhardt of Eastgate also has two children in the school system. She works three part-time jobs and has had to make cutbacks, too, but will support the levy.

"I'm not happy to pay more taxes, but I'll tell you why I'm doing it. I'm doing it for my kids," Gerhardt said. "My parents sacrificed so I could have a good education, and that is why I'm willing to sacrifice for my children, so they can have a good education."

To learn more

A final levy informational meeting will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Amelia High School, 1351 Clough Pike, Batavia Township. Information: www.westclermontlevy.com.

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E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com