Voters rejected the School Board’s 9.5-mill levy, Issue 38.
With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, 2,060 voters (44 percent) cast ballots “For” the levy while 2,599 (56 percent) voted “Against” the levy, according to final, but unofficial results from the Portage County Board of Elections.
The levy would have raised $4 million a year for the district and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $291, according to Treasurer Neil Barnes.
“It’s a sad night for Streetsboro,” said Linda Schettler, a member of People’s Alliance for Streetsboro Schools, a political action committee in favor of the levy.
Rejection of the levy likely will mean $1.3 million in proposed school budget cuts will be voted on by the School Board. If the Board adopts the cuts proposed by the administration, a balance of about $13,000 will be left at the end of the current fiscal year, according to the district’s 5-year plan.
School Board President Denise Baba said the possible cuts would be weighed at the Nov. 12 School Board meeting at Henry Defer Intermediate School at 6:45 p.m.
No decisions have been made affecting the implementation of the cuts, she added.
“Those would be discussed at the Nov. 12 meeting,” she said.
Baba said she believes the People’s Alliance for Streetsboro Schools, a political action committee in favor of the levy, did a good job campaigning for its passage.
“I think we made the case to the community,” she said. “I think PASS did an excellent job communicating that message. There was a tremendous amount of momentum behind the effort that PASS made.”
Martin Fleming, who campaigned against the levy, said he’s pleased with the result.
“I am relieved to know that families and seniors in our community will not have to face a greater burden than they are already experiencing during these hard times. I hope the administrative staff in Streetsboro City Schools will reconsider a pay decrease to include paying their share towards their retirement that the district pays to help offset the deficit the school will now experience. If they care for the children of our community as they say they do, they can at least do this to retain busing for the children.”
Schettler said she was disappointed in the loss, but vowed not to give up.
“PASS is  to stay,” she said. “The parents group is going to continue to grow.”
Some of the cuts the administration has included are reduction of busing to state minimums, meaning no busing will be available for high school students and those who live within 2 miles of their school building. The following positions could be eliminated: 10 certified staff positions, one mechanic position, five custodial positions, 17 playground and lunchroom aides, all five library aides, and one administrative position. Other cost savings measures include termination of a public relations contract, increased fees for sports and “co-curricular” activities, such as choir and band, participation in the SchoolPool Electricity Program, suspended field trips, and reduction of services provided through the Portage County Educational Service Center, according to Barnes.