CUYAHOGA FALLS: Issue 71, the 6.83-mill emergency operating levy for Woodridge Local Schools passed with 55 percent of the vote on Tuesday night.
“Thank God,” said Superintendent Walter Davis, with smiles from ear to ear. “Thank the voters, the community, everybody who heard our message and came out and voted.
The levy will generate $15 million in revenue over five years.
"It’s a testament to the fact that we have an excellent school district and the community knows it. We provided them with all sorts of good information, and as a result, they came out and supported us today.”
The Woodridge School District’s levy failed three times, previous to Tuesday’s vote. School leaders from the district held discussions with parents to ask for their support in this election.
“We went door to door, when it was raining too,” said Scott Karlo, the chairman of the Woodridge Levy Committee. “I think it let people know we seriously wanted to hear from them. We wanted to remind them the levy was on the ballot and what it means.”
The school district aimed to avoid cutting an additional $1.85 million from their budget, after already cutting $2.1 million, following previously failed levies.
The money from the levy ensures transportation is not reduced to the state minimum, with high school students keeping bus privileges. The cuts would have included the jobs of seven bus drivers, 21 teachers, and three custodians.
Also, the community keeps access to Woodridge school buildings after hours, with the levy’s success. The school system will also keep all-day, every day kindergarten, because of the passage.
