Such a tragedy. Our kids are our future and our schools are stellar. Now, the second is in jeopardy. Very disappointed.

Wow...Cleveland can pass a Levy...but Avon Lake can't? How sad.

I am so surprised. I lived in Avon Lake for years, and I've never known them not to pass a school levy.

Thanks Governor Kaisich!

Instead of potential layoffs, how about some concessions to keep the shop afloat until next time. Employees that have their eyes truly set upon a greater good and a rebirth of their passion for their chosen profession, would consider that.

Get rid of some of the old teachers, let some new ones come in and teach.
It is cheaper !
Get the teachers in classrooms and not at lowes and home depot working on there homes and other places around town !
Why do so many teachers have free periods (more than one)?
Why do we need teachers sitting in other classrooms that are not theres ? (to many free periods) Nothing to do with there time .

It seems they just have to much time on there hands and too many teachers on staff.
Maybe look at the treasures and others pay ! (maybe a little to much)
I think we can save in several areas in our schools in AL!

The only good news of the day.

Why is it a tragedy? Last time I heard school was open this morning....Like practically everyone in this country the board will have to re-align it's priorities and do some heavy cutting. Get back to the basics of educating children. Which is their job.
Maybe it would have been wise to ask for more operating money a few years ago instead of requesting bonds for things that were not needed. It appears over the last few years the emphasis was on improving the stadium and adding a bus garage. And yes I know they come from completely different funding pools.
Everyone knew cuts in state and local funds were in the district's future and yet the focus appeared to be on ill-advised infrastructure.
I distinctly remember the argument of increased opportunities for events at the stadium and I may be wrong but did that happen? I don't think it did..Did some additional revenue come to the school system because of all of these "supposed" extra events?
The only thing that should of been asked for, and appropriately, was classroom expansion. And they did and have accomplished that.
Trim the fat. Get back to the basics and prepare for even more cuts in federal and state assistance....

This was a rather large bite out of everyone's wallet. The average homeowner would pay $50-60 more a MONTH! I think a combination of pay and benefit concessions, and a smaller mill increase would be more in order. Right now, many residents are experiencing pay and benefit cutbacks. I know it's not the school employees asking for more that is causing this fiscal crisis, ut it is here, and everyone has to work together to solve this.

I

Shameful. Time to move on and regroup for May.

Yep. Cut personnel! The administrators, NOT the teachers! This is exactly why I voted NO! We do have the best teachers of any district anywhere, but the wasteful spending on things in our district sickens me. Until they get priorities straight I will never vote yes on the levy!!

This was the best news of the day.
An additional $277 tax per $100,000 home valuation increase is a HUGE amount of money for the average taxpayer.
Most people look at 9 mils as quite excessive and over-the-line greedy. We all want the best education opportunities for the children of Avon Lake. Please, school district finance folks, tighten your belts, quit spewing threats of "cuts" as scare tactics for students and parents. Our finance folks need to get realistic and smarter about the money the homeowners of good city already do provide to an admittedly excellent school district.

We moved here recently for the school systems..but it doesn't seem to be much of a priority for a lot of citizens who worry more about their taxes...it's making me a bit nervous...strong schools are the base for any successful community...

Strong schools are the basis for a good community, and when a district loses $7.5 million in state and local tax funding something has to be done to make up that loss. It's so easy to say people should do givebacks ... but the same people saying they don't want an increase in their taxes are asking others to take a cut in their pay. Where's the logic? And what cutbacks are going to make up that amount of money? Perhaps a smaller levy with a few givebacks is in order, but if folks don't understand this puts the schools and the city in crisis mode, their heads are in the sand. The schools are one of our prized assets. They provide an education that is second to none, with a wide variety of opportunities and curricula. It's a special education that gives our kids a fabulous start. Instead of crying about a teacher rightly using a free period to help kids, let's focus on the good the schools do and we can and should do to maintain it. It's not the schools' fault Kasich wiped out funding with a pen, or that the power plant will close. It is our fault as a community, though, if we ignore the realities and cheat our kids. And we'll all pay.

I do not consider stellar teachers, manageable class sizes, busing, enrichment opportunities (like choir and art), and honors programming for our advanced, soon-to-be significant contributors to society to be "fat". The tragedy is that these are but some of the areas you will see cuts if this levy fails again in May. I was not a resident of AL when some feel the emphasis was not on the education side of things, but I am saddened that the kids will have to suffer for it now because of past misjudgments.

Cut the following salaries:
1) Superintendent $117,500.00
2) Treasurer $87,000.00
3) High School Principal $116,125.00
4) Combine salaries for Asst. High School Principals $160,00.00 eliminate one of these
5) Athletic Director $102,169.00
6) Asst. Learwood Principal $88,196.00 eliminate person
Look at some of the sport teams and eliminate some, Education first Sports second

Check into why we are in the hole already! Mr.Scott said this levy wasn't suppose to be on the ballot till 2017? Cut the secretaries out first and people not needed. Our athletics director doesn't need more than 1 secretary, a strange man doesn't have to come to my house every month to check if I live there, a strange man sitting in his car that works for the schools sitting in the high school parking lot ! LET CLEAN HOUSE!!! LETS MAKE MR. SCOTT ACCOUNTABLE!

Levies were passed to pay for the school betterments, bus garage, and new stadium. These finds could not be used for operating expenses. If people attended the board meetings you would see how the budget is managed. Avon Lake appears to be a responsible school district and it is amazing that Cleveland passed their levy, but we could not.

A stellar teacher does not become a bad teacher because of a failed levy. If they do then you don't want them anyway.
I'm hip to the choir and art stuff. I am probably wrong but the expense for those should be manageable.
The first good cut is sports.... Gone. All of it. Or 100 percent pay to play for EVERY activity. If you think Johnny or Jenny is going to be the next top professional, then feel free to pay for all of it then. Coaches... Coaching for free... If they have a true "passion" for their specific game, They'd do it for free...Could save a lot of scratch there in my opinion.
That's a good start....
My responsibility is to pay for kid's education. Not athletic achievement. I will glady pony up cash for buses, advanced placement classes, and so forth.

MR. SCOTT NEEDS TO EXPLAIN WHERE ALL THE MONEY IS GOING???? get rid of all the extra secretaries , men sitting in their cars at the high school...a man coming to my house every month to check if I live there!!! I been here for 7 YEARS!! QUIT WASTING MONEY!!!!!

Mary, go to the meetings and find out instead of complaining...it's all out in the open. As for many of you others who can do it better, I am sure many of you are life long residents who's children enjoyed the great education the schools gave them while others who had no kids in the system helped pay the taxes. Now you see fit to demonize that same system? Without even understanding the issues and the costs?
How about we start addressing the spending in Washington instead of criticizing our local leaders/neighbors/friends. Instead we elected a President who just added $6 trillion in spending to our deficits. If you are the same who voted for this president once again please stop your opinions on this board because your hypocrites!

No, a stellar teacher does not become a bad teacher because of a failed levy. He or she can, however, become an out of work teacher because of a failed levy, leaving the kids with class sizes that stretch even the greatest remaining teachers to their limits. I'm all for trimming admin positions that are not critical during a critical time. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem even that will make a marked dent in the amount needed to sustain critical programs. Hopefully, revisions can be made to the May proposal that will allow everyone to feel their needs have been respected and allow for a passage of the levy.

Schools need to accept the fact that cuts need to be made. We might even need to increase class sizes or teachers have to pay some / more (?) for healthcare. The citizens have simply said enough. It is an economic reality that the state cut (because the money is not there) AND the Fed's a legislated the power plant out of existence. They can't continue on the path before these events happen.

The City of Avon Schools are rated Excellent with Distinction vs. Avon Lake as Excellent but City of Avon Schools spend only $7,181 per student for 2011 vs. Avon Lake City Schools $10,904 (reference Ohio Department of Education Finance group). That is a big difference without a good explanation as to why. Hard to vote for a levy that causes a 16% increase in real estate taxes without more information. I have no problem paying for good schools and good teachers - but prove that the school district is doing what it can to control all costs. Maybe come with a smaller levy this time. I for one found the numbers published by the schools didn't really add up until late in the campaign. Better information would have helped this election result out.

It's amazing to me that people who know NOTHING about school finance chose to make statements about what and who needs to be cut.

I would invite all of you with your ideas around what cuts should be made to attend the next school board meeting. My guess is that none of you have ever attended one before!

Here we go again! Insinuating the folks who can’t afford to pay such a large monthly increase and/or voted Democrat are insignificant and shouldn’t have a say on the board. Please, I am no transplant living in a brand new 350K+ home here, driving a number of SUV’s and can afford to toss money around. I can’t afford dance classes, gymnastics, cheerleading, personal trainers, etc either. But I stayed here because I care about the community and schools and want a quality education for my children. That doesn’t mean I have to price myself right out of here. A 9 mil levy is unreasonable. Comparing Avon Lake and Cleveland is ridiculous too, considering it took them 16 years to pass a levy. I never voted down a levy before, but I voted down the stadium-which has not generated any extra revenue and wasn’t an essential contribution to education. Initially, Scott said non-passage of the levy would affect AP classes, art and choir, but, when it fails there goes the flip flop--personnel must go. I don’t want to see anyone lose a job but if it’s possible to continue on without some, then that’s how it’s done-in every business. Don’t tell me to move either, my home has lost so much value that it's impossible and fact is, I don’t need to move just because you think only rich people should live here. .

This community already pays more in school fees than most other schools nearby, plus we have pay to play and no busing for the high school, yet- that’s not enough either. How about setting up bus stops instead of stopping at every corner -drive behind an AL school bus someday. Probably not a big money saver but frustrating and irrational all the same. Kind of like setting up school districts then giving parents the option to send their child to the school of their choice-duh!
Reading your reactions, one might think the sky is falling. Why would anyone who owns a home want to see the value decrease? Present a realistic levy and cut the fat instead of trying to eliminate budget changes by just replacing all the lost money and a levy will pass. Our kids aren’t suffering, trust me. Many successful people did not have a rich school system backing them up. One excessive levy voted down and we get “how sad….such a tragedy….the schools are in jeopardy….our property value is declining…..our kids are suffering…” Really?

THE LEVY WAS GOING TO JUST BLEED PEOPLE OF THERE MONEY!!!!!!!
When i seen the salary of most of the teachers, it made me sick. My son hates 1/2 of the teachers, he said they are all awful. NO ONE CAN PAY ANYMORE!! DONE WITH ALL THE LEVIES THAT YOU KEEP PUSHING!!!

My children are 4th generation Avon Laker's and I'm now thinking....time to move to Avon!

This levy deserved to fail. It was bloated excess. I am glad the voters finally said ENOUGH. This school district, board, and superintendent need to get a grip on reality. Enough moving dirt around it is pure EXCESS. It is time to cut and cut deep. There is excess staff and the salaries that are paid for some are exorbitant in this economy. It is time to get things in order. Learn how to live within a realistic budget. Everything new is not needed. It is time to learn to live without for a while and maybe then you can learn how to spend our money wisely instead of foolishly wasting it on EXCESSES...yes, that is right...new stadium...EXCESS. Moving dirt around at the high school...EXCESS. New bus garage...EXCESS. You got the nice to have's, now you may have to learn how to live within a realistic budget. Can't figure it out, go ask Avon...they are providing a better education to their students at much less per student. Here's a novel concept...can't figure out how to make the cuts...let's merge with Avon and cut ALL the Avon Lake administrators and go with the ones in Avon who can do it on much less.

What about those teachers who are collecting pension FROM Avon Lake and are now collecting their pay check again?? Why is it that the school district thinks its ok to have allowed teachers to retire last year in time to come back for the football season this year? Allow new (and cheaper) teachers come in and teach? In many ways, these teachers are better prepared than the ones already in the district. I am not say get rid of the ones who are actually teaching your students but there are quite a few who are not doing their job. Or there are those teachers receiving supplemental pay and never really following what is in that job description? There are so many ways for the school district to find these funds with what Avon Lake is already giving them... Maybe they should take the Personal Business Skills course their guidance counselors like to push on the incoming freshmen.

This is what is great about America!!! Everyone who complains about where they live is free to move into a trailer in Sheffield Lake. The people who voted no obviously won in this race. When it comes time to vote again and IF the levy eventually passes you can A) shut up and pay or B) shut up and move

seems simple to me.

p.s I have never had children and never voted down a levy. From Now on I am going to vote no on them. I don't think your kids are worth it.

I just want everyone to know I hate each and every one of you.

I voted for the levy, but I do question how the money the ALCSD already has is being spent. It could not have been spent as efficiently as possible because they ask for more money all the time. The information sent around about the levy indicated that it would cost an average fo $53.00 a month for the average ($100,000.00 home value) homeowner. For my family, it would have cost 4x that - that's $212.00 a month. Very big expense. Like I said, I did end up voting for the levy, but I do understand why so many people didnt.

Also, I completely disagree with teachers needing a free period. First, is your free period worth cutitng academics like will not have to be done? Second, many professions require that work be taken home. I am a lawyer and always have work to do at home. I don't expect to be given a break by my employer during my regular work day so I can keep up. You all knew when you became a teacher that you'd have to grade papers and create lesson plans. Shame on you for claiming that free periods are necessary. They aren't necessary and they certainly aren't "free" as far as the school budget goes.

It seems as though Terska has comppletely missed my point.

how many times does it have to be said before you morons understand.the money used for the stadium and the bus garage could not be used for day to day operations.the stadium is now used for state playoff games that bring in extra money.the school additions came in under budget and the exces money was used to update the west entrance to the school which needed to be done since the 80's.the timing of the stadium and bus garage had to do with extra funding from the government that they would not recieve if they waited.did any of you notice the 20 buses parked outside the old bus garage that was designed to hold six buses.do you seriously think being able to park these buses in a garage wont extend the life of the buses?thus saving the district money on repairs and new buses.the district came in under budget on the expansion of the schools,when is the last time you heard of a school district doing that?I think they are doing a responsible job with there finances. the state is cutting there funding and the power plant is closing.that is the reason for the levy. not because they were irresponsible with the schools money.the attacks on the superintendant and teachers salaries are rediculous.my sons school does a stellar job.i hope your ignorance doesnt change that.

Hey Jeff -

When the district passes a levy for a garage - where does that come from? An operating levy? Answer: Both come from the taxpayer's pocket. I like the stadium & garage -- I just think the timing of both (asking for more) was horrible & irresponsible when, at the time, state budget cuts were expected.

You're logic on the added bus longevity has been disputed by many. I do know that no one on the westside has a "monster garage". Any reason? Maybe you could consult them on this. Because the Fed's coughed up some money, doesn't mean we could afford our part.

If they are so responsible and stellar -- why are we 50% higher (per pupil) than Avon? I'd really like to know. Both are "excellent" rated.

So before you give me a lecture on "monies come from a different pot" and call me a moron because of it -- get your act together. My part of it comes from my wallet regardless of capital or operating. Congratulations, you've honked me off so $@#* much I might learn to like voting against the schools. I personally like to keep the money I've earned and resent the folks who believe that this levy failure is a "shameful" act.

Another answer I'd really like from someone -- when is enough? When do tax rates make our city an unattractive place to buy into? I don't want us to turn into Bay Village. Cost of living (compared to Westlake, Avon, RR) use to be an advantage we had. No longer. When is enough?

Jamie k ,
you are right,I should quit posting I need to spend my time collecting all the money off my money tree so when the schools fail and my property values go down and our town that already cant support any business gets worse. i will be able to support my family.When that happens you will be ok because all the dead beats that move into your neighborhood wont take care of there house either so nobody will notice your garage door.maybe now you can put that money towards your stove.

Nevermind, you're making me laugh now. Keep going.

George,
The figure is 30 % not 50%.Also have you noticed how many levy campaigns there have been in Avon in recent years.maybe they are having money issues because of the lower price per student.

Jeff -

You didn't answer my question. You can call me a moron, but you can't answer a simple question?

One levy doesn't mean the end of our town. It means it was the wrong solution. Trust me, they'll come back for more money and we can argue then. Maybe we could run for the school board? I'm out.

Is there a long term plan in place? The emergency levy would cover the next 5 years, right? What happens then? How do we recover from the loss of state funding and the power plant? Those things aren't going to magically come back in 5 years. The levy would be a temporary fix. In order to support a levy of this magnitude, I want to know what we plan on doing to help avoid this situation in the future. Our children are important, are teachers and programs are important. I am not against higher taxes or a levy to support the schools, but I want to see a long term plan.

George,
The answer to the question "when do tax rates become too high and make our city unattractive" is when your school system becomes average because of its residents lack of forethought.

Is it the resident's lack of forethought or the superintendent's and school board's lack of forethought for not recognizing in a recession that funding cuts were coming from the state and it was irresponsible to spend wastefully on buildings. Yes, those may be different funds of money to the schools, but it all comes out of my one and only pay check. Incompetence by the superintendent and board must be addressed. It is a shame that the great teachers and staff of the district will likely pay the price of a poor administration at the district level who failed to plan and have forethought to see a budget crisis coming. Until I see 20% voluntary pay cuts from all the administrators in this district and them showing a willingness to share in the pain for their bad decisions I will not be voting for another levy of this magnitude. They need to own up to their part in this mess and be willing to feel some pain too. That is true leadership. When you have a community of tax payers that are taking pay cuts at their jobs and getting miniscule raises if you're lucky I fail to see how they think that their electorate can afford this massive increase.

Jeff
Actually, it is 52% not 30%
(10904-7181)=3723
3723/7181=52%
Avon Lake spends 52% more per student than Avon
Also, a lot of Avon's levies have been bond issues for new buildings not operating levies. This last one took 3 tries to pass to build a new middle school. Avon Lake has been significantly outspending Avon for 10 years so it its not a shortage of money that they spend less.
Again, I don't mind paying for good teachers and schools, just tell me what we are getting for the extra 50%

in Jeff's world 52% = 30%... for the sake of his argument.
Here's a question for all, if the levy was for .... say 4.8 ml, would that have changed your vote?
What do you think the asking price will be come the next vote?

In my mind it would go from "heck no" to "possibly". I would want more advance notice of the info meeting (I found out day of and could not go) I'm generally distrustful of the admin's #'s. (ie "if you can't dazzle me with brilliance, then baffle me with bs").

The fact the teachers did not get a raise when many in the community being asked for money isn't much of a "give back". I don't consider a raise a god given guarantee.

I would be open to a increase when I know of the cuts MADE to make us more in line with other cities.

All I have to say is that I'm really upset that the levy failed. My favorite teacher is at risk of being cut and it is completely unfair. I don't even know what to say about it. I just hope that everyone who voted against the levy, knew exactly what they were voting against and had a good reason for doing it.

Just more fuel for the fire. Avon Lake spends 13 million more per year than Avon.
Maybe we should be looking to Avon for answers? Their school system is ranked as high or higher.

Here is the link from the state of Ohio.
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ohio/2012/01/17/see-how-much-each-ohio-school-district-spends-per-student/

My guess is that Avon has lower costs because they are rapidly expanding and have newer teacher hires with lower salaries. Their costs will escalate as their teachers gain seniority. Avon just passed a levy to build a new middle school.

I think I should become a teacher or administrator - I make half of what teachers do yet I am expected to foot a bigger tax bill. Who in the h*ll do you think will pay for another vote in May? We the taxpayers. STOP THIS NONSENSE, AVON LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT!!!