PERRYSBURG, Ohio — The Perrysburg schools levy that failed last month has left district leaders questioning what to do next.
The district’s board of education met on Thursday to discuss where there could be cuts, as the levy sought to replace a $13.5 million levy that was expiring.
"Unfortunately, that levy was defeated," said Superintendent Tom Hosler. "So, starting on January 1, we will not be collecting $13.5 million that we were previously."
The district will be making $6 million in budget cuts and using $7.5 million from its cash balance, according to Hosler. These cuts will affect staffing with the elimination of 61 positions across teaching, support and administrative roles.
Hosler added that this is just the beginning.
"We're just in the initial stages of outlining the things that we need to do," he said. "The $13.5 million represents about 17% of our total operating budget, so, we understand that things have to change in terms of how we're operating."
Some of those impacted areas will include student programs, including athletics, music at Hull Prairie Elementary and a reduction in staffing.
Scott Buker, principal of Perrysburg Junior High School, says this could impact opportunities for engagement and learning enrichment.
"More than anything, our two assistant principals are mentors to kids and provide a lot of structure and mentorship and guidance, and our kids and our teachers rely on that support, so the reallocation of that workload is definitely going to be felt amongst the administrative office, the student services office and then our teachers, too,” Buker said.
Nikki Clark is a parent in the school district and shared her thoughts on how the cuts.
"As a parent, I'm a show choir mom, so show choir, band, musical, anything that has to do with music or the arts, my daughter's pretty involved in it," Clark said. "We'll definitely see the pain from that a little bit more as a lot of those programs are the ones that are hit."
She added that high school kids losing their freshman sports is unfortunate, too.
"Losing that's going to be a huge disappointment. The overall Perrysburg experience is just going to look very different,” Clark said.
Hosler clarified that no decisions have been finalized and the cuts wouldn't take effect until the next school year.