The Union Local School District Board of Education decided against placing an operational levy on the November ballot. The board announced the decision at a Thursday, July 15 meeting.
Superintendent Kirk Glasgow said the board felt asking for support at this time would be "bad timing."
"There have been many layoffs affecting residents of our district," Glasgow said. "We believe the voters would support a levy if the time was right."
Glasgow said the district's finances are tight, but not "bad enough to warrant a levy now."
At the July 15 meeting, District Treasurer Shawn Miller reported that the district is $188,595.64 "in the red." She noted that it was the first time in her 20 years as district treasurer that the general fund balance was positive.
Still, officials say with the state cutting funding by 3/4 percent, the district will have to keep a close watch on its budget.
"It will be a very lean year," Glasgow said. "If we are careful, we should be O.K."
He said the district may revisit the issue next year. Glasgow said the district is looking at ways to keep costs down.
He said in the past year, the district has lost 11 teacher through attrition, but only replaced two, restructuring staff to cover the other positions. He said that there are many teachers in the district who are eligible for retirement and a change in the law set to take place in 2015 may encourage those teachers to retire in the next five years.
In addition, the district has cut two cafeteria positions and two aides. In another move to save money, the board chose not to renew the district's $697 annual membership in The Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy. Glasgow said the board supports the coalition's efforts and has been a member since the early 1990's. He said the decision was purely a financial one.
In good news for the district, it was announced that the Middle School received a 21st Century Community Learning Center United States Department of Education grant totaling $925,000 over five years. The school will receive $200,000 the first three years, $175,000 the fourth and $150,000 the fifth year.
"This grant will help the students who need it the most," Glasgow said.
The target audience of the grant will be students who are economically disadvantaged and those performing below proficient math and reading on state assessments.
The grant offers programs and services that benefit the educational and related health, social services, cultural and recreational needs of the community. The learning center will serve as a safe and nurturing environments where children participate in enriching activities during times when school is not in session.
The grant will also provide opportunities for literacy and/or educational services to the families of children participating in the program.
The CCLC will provide for out of school time academic enrichment opportunities for children to help meet local and state academic standards in reading and math. Programs will provide youth development activities such as drug and violence prevention and intervention, art and music activities, character education, counseling and recreation to enhance the program's academic components.
Additionally, programs will focus on parent and family engagement outcomes .
The grant will pay for a site coordinator and a program administrator, as well as three teachers, one aide, one secretary and one breakfast cook (each for 15 hours per week). Two assistants will also be hired with a $8 per hour stipend. The site coordinator is expected to be hired by Aug. 1.
The program will also include a district-wide mentoring program in which high school students mentor middle school students and middle school students mentor elementary.
As part of the program, the district will partner with Ohio University Eastern's Education Department, Belmont Technical College's Child Development program and The Ohio State University Extension Service.
The grant was written by Helen Puperi. The board also approved the renewal of its contract with Puperi at the July 15 meeting. Puperi said it is her goal to secure CCLC grants for the elementary and high school as well.
District officials plan to maintain the program after the funding ends.
In anticipation of open enrollment requests from the Freeport/Piedmont area, superintendent Glasgow provided figures for a possible bus route for those students. Approximately 21 students needing transportation would be required to make the 40.8 mile round trip route cost effective. Glasgow said 10 new students from that area are open enrolled for the upcoming school year, with seven returning. A total of 56 students from Harrison Hills are now open enrolled in the district, including 37 returning students. He said the district is anticipating more open enrollment requests.
In other business the board approved the following:
* Resignation of Aaron Linard as assistant band director;
* Reassignment/voluntary transfer of Michelle Webb from the middle school to third grade teacher;
* Employment of Andrew Susick as elementary school music teacher;
* Lisa Johnson as elementary summer school teacher;
* Kara Erwin, extended school year, nine hours working with autistic student at a cost of $21.20 per hour;
* Employment of Robert Barr as bus driver;
* Ron Bober as ULES detention supervisor and Saturday school monitor;
* Deborah Barr as annual advisor;
* Supplemental contracts for Brandon Smith, assistant band director; Chris Schmitt and Jeremy Schmitt, seventh grade football coaches; Roger Herbert and Eric Kerns, eighth grade football coaches and Doug Butts and Cyle Cole, ninth grade football coaches;
* Volunteers -- Kate Elson, Aaron Linard and Bethany Perry, band and Steve Mercer, Kevin Spiker, John Luyster and Zach Delman, football;
* The following certified and non-certified substitutes: Bryce Allen, 4-9 science and social studies teacher; Sarah Davis, school nurse; Franci Doty, P-3 teacher and intervention specialist; John Doherty, short term general education teacher; Patricia Doherty, short term general education; Julie Johnen, aide; Karen Large, aide; Sonya Lucas, P-3 teacher; Susan Richardson, aide; Joseph Mazzie, short term general education; Anna Jefferis, 4-9 language arts, reading and social studies and Bert Mozena, 7-12 basic business/history teacher;
* Additional LPDC stipends to Nancy Vannest, $1,000; Carolyn Fraley, $500 ; Marisha Borovich, $500 and an assistant athletic director stipend to Ben Porter;
* Participation in Title I Title I-D, Title II-A, Title II-D, Title IV-A, Title V-A, Special Education (IDEA-B), Early Childhood Special Education and Early Childhood Education;
* Field trips to the Ohio State Fair on July 28 for FCCLA and for the marching band on Aug. 3 to New Philadelphia to watch a professional band competition and
* Approval of a one-year service agreement with One Call Now for the district's call system at an estimated cost of $2,247.
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