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All area schools seeking new funds lose at polls

Nick Verhoff (left), the superintendent of Beavercreek schools, receives a pat on the back from Sue Heckler as they watch the early returns on telvision. About twenty Beavercreek citizens gather in the commons area, of Beavercreek High School, to watch the election returns. The levy was going down to defeat in early results.

Ron Alvey Nick Verhoff (left), the superintendent of Beavercreek schools, receives a pat on the back from Sue Heckler as they watch the early returns on telvision. About twenty Beavercreek citizens gather in the commons area, of Beavercreek High School, to watch the election returns. The levy was going down to defeat in early results.

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Lebanon City Schools teachers Toni McKeirnan and Pam Russel watch as the returns come in for the district's levy on election night, Tuesday, May 3. Supporters of the levy gathered at the high school to watch the returns come in.

David Moodie Lebanon City Schools teachers Toni McKeirnan and Pam Russel watch as the returns come in for the district's levy on election night, Tuesday, May 3. Supporters of the levy gathered at the high school to watch the returns come in.

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By Mark Gokavi and Margo Rutledge Kissell
Staff Writers 11:53 PM Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Voters on Tuesday rejected requests for more money by eight area school districts — including Beavercreek, Fairborn, Huber Heights and Trotwood-Madison — despite many school officials saying the funds were needed to stave off further cuts.

Voters were kinder to the five school districts that had renewal issues on the ballot. All of those passed, including in Xenia, where voters renewed a 1.3-mill levy and a 0.5 percent income tax.

“I think people are voting with their wallets and voting with their home situations and you can’t blame ’em right now,” Fairborn City Schools Superintendent Dave Scarberry said after his district’s additional 7.9-mill levy was defeated 3,194 votes to 1,766.

“I heard wonderful, positive things and people supporting (us), but when gas is $4.19 a gallon, food costs are going sky-high ... they’ve got to end it someplace,” he said. “This is something they can control and do something about.”

For Trotwood-Madison, it was the fifth straight levy defeat.

The 7.5-mill operating levy — rejected 1,246 votes to 1,095 — would have raised $1.7 million annually and eased the funding crunch to the district that hasn’t had new operating dollars in 15 years. The district has cut 123 positions since 2002 and will close two of its five schools this fall.

Superintendent Rexann Wagner called it premature to say where more budget cuts could be made.

“We’ll have to come back and figure out, where do we go next?” she said.

In Warren County, Tuesday was the eighth consecutive time voters in the Little Miami Schools rejected its ballot request. Unless it passes a levy by year’s end, the state could take the drastic and historic action of dissolving the district because of financial hardship.

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