Citizens group, lawmakers plan public panel talk

A group of activists who promoted the Chardon Schools’ unsuccessful Nov. 7 levy attempt are organizing a public panel discussion involving school officials and a number of Ohio lawmakers.

According to a news release from the district, Citizens for Chardon Schools is planning to hold its Community Forum on Ohio’s School Funding at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Chardon School Board’s meeting room, 428 North St. in Chardon.

Chardon Schools Superintendent Michael Hanlon expressed the district’s disappointment with the 3.9mill additional continuing operating levy’s failure in a statement following the Nov. 7 General Election.

“We are obviously disappointed that Issue 26 was not approved by our voters,” it reads.

He said that, because of voters rejecting the levy (by a margin of 3,668 to 3,254 votes, according to final, official results from the Geauga County Elections Board), “The school district will immediately begin the very difficult process of identifying specific budget reductions that will be implemented in the 201819 school year.”

Although the missive did not identify what specific cuts are on the horizon, Hanlon’s message states: “... The cutbacks will certainly affect a variety of areas within the district’s operating budget, including personnel, programming, and services in the district.”

Chardon Schools advocate Gabrielle Boose, who helped lead the levy committee’s social media campaign, said in a phone interview following the election that she feels similar.

“I’m really disappointed,” Boose said. “We have a wellperforming district that’s in the top 10 percent in the state. My concern is that we can’t stay there.”

She said, from her perspective on the levy committee, especially because she’s involved with its social media component, she saw lots of negative comments related to voters’ frustration over having to help foot the bill to cover gaps left by reductions in state funding.

“We really worked hard to educate voters that the main reason for the levy was that Chardon lost a lot of state funding,” she said, adding that it’s largely based on property values which are high in the district, but may paint an inaccurate picture because of the large amounts of rural property and that property owned by older people who don’t have school-age children.

In its news release about the Jan. 18 Citizens for Chardon Schools forum, Chardon Schools highlights the district’s loss of state funding in recent years.

“State funding for Chardon Schools has decreased over the last several years, due in large part to the phase out of the Tangible Personal Property Tax (TPP) reimbursement,” the release reads. “The Chardon Schools is losing approximately $1 million dollars per year due to this phaseout, while the District’s 3.9 mill operating levy was defeated by voters in November 2017.”

Organizers state that Sen. John Eklund, R-Munson Township; Sen. Sean O’Brien, D-Bazetta Township; Rep. Sarah LaTourette, R-Chester Township and Rep. John Patterson, D-Jefferson, plan to join Hanlon for the discussion Jan. 18.

Those interested in learning about or becoming involved with Citizens for Chardon Schools may contact the organization via email at c4cs@gmail.com.