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Athletics, Extra-Curricular Activities on Chopping Block if Levy Fails

After nine levy defeats and two rounds of reductions, a 12.9 mill levy was placed on the ballot at the February 14, 2009 special board meeting. Faced with the possibility that the community could turn down the May levy, board members are also forced to consider what options are left in order to deal with the financial crisis.

On Monday night, February 23, 2009, parents and students pleaded with the board to decide swiftly, hoping to avoid an uncertain high school career. The board listened to thirty-one testimonials regarding the future of the district, and in so doing, it weighed the evening's requests against state mandated barriers. In doing so, the board approved the following additional reductions if the levy fails in May:

    1. Reduce graduation requirements at the high school to state minimum.  The
       class of 2010, 2011 and 2012 will still be required to attain 21.5
       credits, which have been needed for years to graduate from Northwest High
       School.  The senior class of 2012-2013 will experience the reduced
       graduation requirements to state minimum.
    2. The board will immediately send a letter to the Northeastern Buckeye
       Conference to request the enactment of Article IX - Withdrawal
       Procedures.  A school may withdraw from the conference at the close of
       any school year provided that it has met all of its obligations to the
       Northeastern Buckeye Conference.  A notice in writing of the intent of
       such withdrawal shall be given to the President two years prior to the
       date of actual withdrawal. (All athletic contracts are scheduled two
       years in advance.  Therefore, other schools and other student athletes
       would be harmed if this phase out was not enacted.)
    3. Starting in August of 2009, all facility use (except Northwest school
       programs) will be charged a fee to use the buildings and the proceeds
       will go to support extra-curricular programs.
    4. Families who want their boys and girls to participate in extra-curricular
       programs will have two years to find appropriate alternatives.
    5. Honor all current athletic contracts that are in place.  These contracts
       contain $239,000 in penalties if broken.
    6. There are individual members of the community who are liable for $250,000
       in notes used to improve outside athletic facilities.  The district
       estimates two more years of extra-curricular programs could provide the
       donations to retire the notes.

"Next year's seniors and juniors only have one opportunity to be in high school," said Superintendent Bill Stetler. "They must pay double Pay-to-Participate fees, but they can finish their high school career with their friends and in the Northwest community as programs are phased out."

Students freshman year or younger, will have no opportunity for extra-curricular or co-curricular activities in two years. They will attend school at their assigned time Monday through Friday and complete the state minimum requirement for graduation.

In making this decision, the board considered four pools of services from which to reduce expenditures.

    1. Curricular
    2. Co-Curricular
    3. Administrative Support/Operations
    4. Extra-Curricular

The reductions are prioritized from #4 to #1.

Finally, all extra-curricular programs and after school activities will be cancelled at the end of the 2011 school year. All present reductions, plus another 1.3 million dollars yet to be enacted at the close of the 2008-2009 school year must remain in place.

The levy request is 12.9 mills, which equates to $33 per month per $100,000 of home value.

SOURCE Northwest Local Schools, Superintendent Bill Stetler