ThisWeek CW 05/08/2014
http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/2014/05/08/groveport-school-levy.html
Groveport Madison school district officials were optimistic late Tuesday that voters had approved a 6.18-mill operating levy and 2.74-mill bond issue.
With 32 of 33 precincts reporting at 12:30 a.m. May 7, the Franklin County Board of Elections reported the levy was passing by a vote of 3,609 to 3,178 or 53.17 percent to 46.82 percent.
District Superintendent Bruce Hoover said levy volunteers had collected poll numbers suggesting a win by nearly 400 votes.
“It’s a little preliminary to call, but we believe we’re up by 400 votes and we feel really good about the turnout,” Hoover said. “This victory sets a foundation for us, addressing our facility issues and providing adequate space for our kids and proper academic opportunities to compete with other area districts.”
If the final numbers show the combined levy and bond issue have been approved, district figures indicate the 6.18-mill operating levy will generate $4,485,000 in new revenue annually and will cost property owners $216.27 per $100,000 of home valuation.
The bond issue will add another $95.66 per $100,000 of property to the tax bill, making the total cost an additional $311.93 per $100,000 of property valuation.
For property owners with a homestead exemption, the total will be slightly less at $233.94 per $100,000 of valuation.
Voters turned out in support of the issues to reinstate several programs that had been previously cut, due to prior levy failures. This levy and bond issue also would bring some new programming and the construction of a new high school building.
“I’m so very excited about this victory and that the fall of 2017 will mean a new high school and bringing busing and extracurriculars this fall so that our students will get the well-rounded education they deserve,” levy campaign spokeswoman Maria McGraw said. “I’m so thankful to the voters and the volunteers.”
In February, the school board approved the following plan in anticipation of the levy passing:
• Restore high school busing and reinstate busing to all students over a one-mile radius from their school buildings.
• Phase in new college and career readiness programs, with an emphasis on STEM courses (science, technology, engineering and math) for grades 5-12.
• Increase the number of Advanced Placement course offerings.
• Reinstate all athletics and extracurricular programs.
• Fund the integration of an educational technology plan at all grade levels.
• Begin planning for the construction of a new high school.
• Allocate $1 million for the immediate maintenance and repair needs at the current high school until a new building opens in three years.
• Maintain a carryover fund of $3 million by 2017, the equivalent of one month of payroll for the district.
• Establish an independent citizens task force to review and communicate the use of taxpayer investments.
“We couldn’t have done this without all of the voters and our volunteers who saw that the need was real, and all of our teachers and administrators who helped to showcase the kids. There’s lots of thanks to go out to everyone for making this happen,” Hoover said.