SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP —
Reducing busing of students to the minimum amount required by the state, effective Jan. 2, was the first money-saving decision made by the Ashtabula Area City School Board Thursday night.
The second decision was to cut all spring sports at Lakeside Junior High School.
The school board also agreed to five other mid-year reductions, like reduce lighting and discontinue the district newsletter, bringing the grand total to $800,000 in savings.
Superintendent Joseph Donatone said these decisions will allow the district to end this year and next in the black, despite the loss of state and federal funding and the failure of a five-year, 6.4-mill emergency property tax levy for operating costs in August.
The board is putting the levy back on the Nov. 6 ballot, with hopes voters will reconsider.
School Board member Janine Trebuchon-Wertz said the board didn’t want to make any cuts.
“We absolutely hate doing this,” she said.
According to Thursday night’s decisions, if the Nov. 6 levy fails, starting Jan. 2, the district will completely eliminate transportation for students in grades 9-12, and for students in grades K-8 who live less than two miles from their school. Reverting to the state minimum requirement in transportation will save the district $750,000, according to the resolution.
School board members approved the reduction in busing unanimously.
If the Nov. 6 levy fails, all Lakeside Junior High School sports, meaning girls and boys track, and boys tennis, will be eliminated for this school year for a savings of $26,027, according to the resolution.
School board members approved the reduction in a 3-2 vote. School board members Steve Candela and Jim Hudson cast the ‘no’ votes.
“I don’t want to do it,” Candela said. “Twenty-six thousand dollars isn’t enough savings to cut all junior high sports.”
Parent Ray Beckwith suggested asking every student to pay $30, and that would be enough to save the sports program. “Thirty dollars isn’t a lot to ask; overall it would be positive,” he said.
Another parent suggested raising the pay-to-play fee.
LJHS Principal Kathy Reichert said charging the students more money will be an economic stress on their families.
Local News
Ashtabula BOE names cuts
- Local News
-
-
University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center presents senior program
University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center, in partnership with the Geauga County Department on Aging, offers a proactive course of action for seniors who may be at risk of undiagnosed illness and home safety issues.
-
Ashtabula County building department moving to electronic format
The Ashtabula County Building Department is going electronic.
-
Conneaut water line project to start
Work could begin soon on a water line project that will improve service to customers on Williams Street, according to City Manager Tim Eggleston.
-
Crews continue search for missing Pa. man
Search and rescue crews from multiple Ohio and Pennsylvania agencies continued recovery efforts Tuesday for a Pennsylvania man who is presumed to have drowned in Pymatuning Lake Saturday evening.
-
Eighmy building soon to be history in Conneaut
Demolition is well under way on a long-empty industrial building at Maple and Reig avenues, a project that will clear space for a track/field complex for student athletes and the community.
-
Sen. Sherrod Brown says visa reform should press employers to hire American first
American jobs should be offered to qualified isAmerican workers first, Sen. Sherrod Brown said Tuesday.
-
Ashtabula City Council talks of conforming boundaries
Some Ashtabula City Council members said Monday night they would like to see the city take another look at the possibility of conforming its boundaries with Ashtabula and Saybrook townships.
-
Former Ashtabula resident wants to be Cleveland’s first Hispanic councilwoman
A former Ashtabula resident is seeking to become Cleveland’s first Hispanic councilwoman, and is a candidate for the Ward 14 seat in the Sept. 10 primary election.
-
Amateur radio enthusiasts to host convention on weekend
Aaron Miller is ready for any emergency.
With a portable antenna and a generator, Miller is ready to go old-school with his HAM radio system in case of a large scale emergency. -
Dinner to benefit local cancer patient
Some aggressive rounds of chemotherapy are part of Ashtabula Township native Gary Povlis’ treatment during this second bout of cancer he is enduring. His friends and family are hoping he will turn the corner on his cancer, and an event planned Sunday could help.
- More Local News Headlines
-
University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center presents senior program
