FPS staff report
February 12, 2013
Major cuts are in store for the Edison Local School District following the failure of an operating levy Feb. 5.
For the fourth time, school district residents rejected a 9.45-mill tax levy which would have provided funds to offset a deficit of $1.5 million by June 2014.
The unofficial district-wide vote was 1,627 For the levy and 2,108 Against. The Jefferson County tally was 1,593 For and 2,074 Against while the Carroll County vote was a tie of 34 For and 34 Against.
“It is very unfortunate the levy didn’t pass,” said Edison Local School Supt. Bill Beattie.
“The Edison Local School District will be facing a very difficult situation financially. There will be drastic cuts implemented, which include closing Pleasant Hill elementary school and cutting bussing for students in grades nine through 12,” he added.
The failure could also mean the state will eventually take over the school district, according to Supt. Beattie.
The Edison Local School District has a total enrollment of 2,060 students in grades K-12 who are housed in four buildings Pleasant Hill, Stanton, John Gregg Middle School between Amsterdam and Bergholz and Edison High School near Richmond.
Like most other rural school districts, Edison is not receiving any increase in state funding for the next biennium, according to figures released last week in the Governor’s proposed school funding budget. |
