February 9, 2009
Buckeye E-Newsletter
To date over 1,600 community members have signed-up to receive this periodic information regarding Buckeye Schools. Others wishing to receive these emails can sign-up on our website www.ourbuckeye.com. Any one receiving this information by the postal service can send me your email address at woody@buckeyeschools.org and I will email it to you to save the cost of postage.
Yours with Pride,
Ken Woodruff
Community Outreach Coordinator
School Funding:
There are four types of revenue for Ohio public schools. What most people do not understand is that each source is regulated by the state on how the money can be legally spent by schools. The revenue sources are as follows:
1. Operating Money – By Ohio law this money can only be used for the daily operating of the school district (salaries, utilities, supplies and purchase/services). The Buckeye Local Schools have not had “new” operating money voted by the public for the schools since 1994.
2. Permanent/Capital Improvement Money – By Ohio law this money can only be used for such things as computers, buses, facilities and text books. Again, by Ohio law this money can NOT be used to operate a school
3. Medina County Sales Tax – This ½% increase in the Medina County Sales Tax was approved by the voters in May, 2007. The estimated revenues for the Buckeye Local School District are $700,000.00 per year. By Ohio law this money can only be used for Permanent/Capital Improvement. We cannot use any of this money for the daily operations of the school district.
4. Bond Money – By Ohio law this money can only be used to fund building and grounds projects. It is the equivalent of a mortgage payment for the school district. A Bond Issue was passed in 1999 by our community to put additions onto the high school and junior high school, plus build the present Buckeye Elementary Schools.
Elementary Schools Change Name:
With input from community members and parents the Buckeye Board of Education approved changing the names of its two elementary schools. The elementary complex will be called Buckeye Elementary Schools with stones recognizing the three townships: Litchfield, Liverpool and York. The current York side will be renamed Buckeye Primary School and will house grades kindergarten through third. The current Liverpool side will be renamed Buckeye Intermediate School and will house grades four through six, plus it will have a few preschools rooms that were specifically built for preschool children.
Good News out of Columbus??????:
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has released his proposal for reforming Ohio Public Schools. Most of the reform proposals would require additional expenditures from school districts. The next two year Ohio operating budget must be passed and signed into law by June 30, 2009. With the make up of the Ohio legislature and recent Ohio politics, this appears as though it may be a difficult process. On the surface, it appears as though any additional funding that school districts would receive would not even begin to cover the numerous additional mandates in the proposal. I believe that it is in the best interest of the all of us to give educators and legislators some time to “unpack” and communicate the reform package to the public. I would urge everyone to go on line and read the proposal. The Buckeye schools will have the link posted on our website soon and I will continue update you through these mailings.
Please keep in mind that there is much work to be done in the upcoming months. As we all struggle with the economy, please stay focused and positive on the aspects of our life that we can control: our family, schools and community. Please feel free to email me at woody@buckeyeschool.org with any comments or questions you may have regarding our schools.