11/6/08

Suburban News

Khalila Perrin

If the livelihood of Columbus City Schools was at stake, voters threw the district a lifeline by overwhelmingly OK’ing Issue 75.

The unofficial count, with 317 of 430 precincts reporting, was 97,189 votes to 61,122.

The issue is the district’s combination 7.85-mill operating levy and $164-million, 1.13-mill bond issue. It’s expected to cost homeowners $275 per $100,000 of home valuation annually. The current average home value in the district is $110,876, according to the Franklin County Auditor’s office.

Despite the healthy margin, District Superintendent Gene Harris still found herself short of breath at about 9 p.m. when only absentee figures were available.

Harris, school board members and other campaign supporters mingled over food and drink for most of the night inside campaign headquarters at Due Amici on Gay St. as the results rolled in.

By 11 p.m. supporters were ready to “call it,” however.

“I am grateful that this community showed us once again that they value education and that they value our children,” Harris said just after 11 p.m.

Passage of Issue 75 means the district can continue to work earnestly toward its goal of a 90 percent graduation rate by 2012, she added.

Board Vice President Carol Perkins said she was “walking on a cloud,” once the results were clear.

“We are so looking forward to being able to continue the progress for our students. This will give us a great opportunity to do some great thing for our students and the district,” she said.

Now that voters have approved the matter, the district can move into the third segment of its facilities overhaul plan using about $123 million of the $164-million anticipated bond revenue.

Ten to 12 school buildings are now on tap for renovation or replacement. It also would fund the replacement of half the bus fleet, textbooks and 8,000 computers.

Tax dollars generated by the operating levy will raise $77 million a year in new operating funds. The majority of funds generated by the levy are earmarked for the day-to-day operations, including staff salaries and benefits and the cost of utilities, among other expenses.

Funds also will allow the district to hire more than 300 teachers and beef up security. The dollars also will allow for reductions in class sizes in grades 1-3 and add one class period back to the school day at the high and middle schools. Officials also plan to develop four new regional alternative schools.

The funds also will allow the district to increase the number of science, technology, engineering and math classes to meet the requirements of new state standards.

Still, officials have said $76 million in cuts during the next fours will still be necessary. The district’s administration has promised to reduce growth by $19 million a year for the next four years and close more schools.

“I’m particularly excited about returning the hour to these school day that will allow us to implement so many different aspects of our educational program,” said board President Terry Boyd.

Doing just that will be the first order of business next fall, said Harris.

Collection of the tax won’t begin until early 2009.

Until then, district official are “continuing to plan for the implementation of the program” said Harris

The district depends on tax revenue for about 54 percent of its budget. Officials have promised to not return to voters with other request until at least 2012.

Voters previously approved operating levies in November 2004 and 1996.

They also approved a bond issue in November 2002 that funded the first two phases of the district’s facilities plan, which included 34 schools.

“I am grateful that this community showed us once again that they value education and that they value our children.”

–Gene Harris