Superintendent says district at ‘critical point’
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Sept. 27, 2006

School Superintendent Kurt Stanic thinks the clock is ticking on the districts ability to maintain the recent excellence it has attained.

While delivering his annual state of the schools address to the North Olmsted Chamber of Commerce Thursday, Stanic said the proposed 6.5 mill operating levy on the November ballot is crucial to the district.

“The district has reached a critical point in it’s financial future,” Stanic said. “The failure to pass an operating levy for the third time has weakened the district’s financial position. The district is facing rapidly increasing operating deficits that will exhaust our cash reserves in two years. Eventually our district will be forced to cut staffing and programs to stabilize our finances.”

November’s ballot issue will be the third attempt in 2006 and fourth try in a year by the district to pass an operating levy. Voters rejected the same 6.5- mill proposal in an August special election. They also defeated it in May while narrowly defeating a separate capital improvements levy which would have converted Pine School into a new middle school complex, renovated the historic portions of the current middle school for use as a performing arts center and a community center plus made other improvement to the district. In November 2005, voters rejected a combined operating/capital improvements levy.

After the state of the schools address, Stanic said the district’s emphasis has to be on passing an operating levy for now instead of also trying to pass a capital improvements plan.

“Operating funds have been focused on making improvements in the classroom, with new textbooks and teacher training,” Stanic said. “The district does not want to lose what it worked so hard to achieve. It took three years to move from continuous improvement to excellent, and build the solid foundation. To dismantle programs because of operating levy failures would hurt the entire community.”

Stanic said the district has already had preliminary discussions about what to do if the operating levy proposal is rejected.

“If it happens again, I believe you will see those cutbacks,” Stanic said. “The board will be talking about it prior to the November vote and after if it’s necessary.”

During discussions on placing the operating levy back on the November ballot, there was some consideration of waiting until February and outlining to the public cuts that would be made if the levy does not pass until February. After initially not having enough votes to go on the November ballot, the board changed course the day before the deadline for filing issues for the November ballot and voted unanimously to place it on the ballot again in November.

Stanic said he wants to keep in place the foundation which led to the district receiving an excellent ranking on the state academic report card earlier this year.

“We have kept our commitment to the community to improve academic achievment,” he said. “We will continue to work with our students, parents, staff and community to promote and foster a culture of excellence based on our belief that all students should learn at high levels.”

Stanic said the district’s staff and students deserve the credit for the excellent ranking.

“Our score reflects the focused efforts of teachers and staff who worked with Dr. Cheryl Dubsky, associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction, to align the curriculum and make the necessary changes to help students achieve at higher levels,” he said. “The district made an investment in staff training and new K-12 programs and materials to make sure the curriculum provided what students need to be successful. The foundation is in place for consistency across buildings, grade levels and classrooms.”

Stanic said the district also continues to take steps to deal with areas where state and federal mandates require higher scores.

“We have been systematic and persistent in our efforts to support teachers, provide training based on data-driven and research proven methods for English language learners and students with disabilities. Pupil Services have collaborated on the Continuous Progress in Reading initiative, summer school and many other areas,” he said.

Stanic also covered other district improvements such as a new Web site, improved computer equipment in every building, replacing the heating system at the middle school and other replacement work.