Oberlin schools seek 1-mill levy on November ballot

Oberlin City Schools is seeking a permanent improvement levy that, if passed on Nov. 4, would go toward repairing the district’s buildings, purchasing new curriculum and supporting its music programs.

According to Superintendent John Schroth, the district currently receives 2 mills of a fiveyear renewal levy utilized for building repairs to maintain its four buildings, which are each more than 60 years old.

However, these funds have been insufficient for the schools’ needs, Schroth said. Last school year, the money was spent by January, and the district has already used 82 percent of this year’s funds.

The 1-mill levy on this year’s ballot would raise just under an additional $182,000 per year for the schools.

“What we’ve found over the last few years is that we’re running out of that money,” he said. “What’s happened is as our buildings get older, it’s taking more and more money to keep them warm and dry and together.

“By maintaining the schools’ public facilities, we’re protecting home values,” he continued. “We have an obligation to maintain these public buildings and to the best of our ability. And I think everyone should be concerned about the upkeep in the long-term and the viability of our buildings.”

Building maintenance and upkeep has led the district to use money from their general funds, cutting into instruction and classroom costs, Schroth said. The additional levy would assist in funding necessary curriculums and instrument repair for the schools bands and orchestras, which have seen much deferred maintenance, according to the superintendent.

Around two-thirds of Langston Middle School students, and one-third to one-half of Oberlin High School students, are involved in the band and orchestra.

“A high percentage of our students are involved in music,” Schroth noted. “That part affects a really large portion of our student body... we have a great deal of support for the arts here, and it’s really due to that community support.”

He explained the district recently purchased a new math curriculum, which cost more than $90,000, pulling further funds from the school’s $14 million general budget that is used to pay for utility bills, salaries and classroom supplies, among other costs.

The 1-mill levy would also go toward paying for a new school bus. Schroth explained the district had to retire two buses last year, but could only afford to replace one.

If the levy passes, it will cost property owners about $35.04 per $100,000 of property value.

“The Oberlin community has always been very supportive of our schools, and we’ve been, I think, very responsible and cautious with our spending,” Schroth said. “We’ve seen this pattern of increased maintenance and upkeep needs over the past few years, and feel that’s time that we find a way to supplement it.”