CLEVELAND — After a failed levy in the fall, the Medina City School District is going back to the community and asking them to pass a levy this March. 

What You Need To Know

  • Medina City Schools are seeking a 7.5 mill continuous operating levy

  • The district had a failed levy in November

  • Bussing, class sizes, some sports teams, some electives and AP courses could be at risk

The district said if the levy doesn't pass, no bussing will be available for high school students or kids living less than two miles from the school, class sizes will increase, pay-to-play fees will go up and some middle school teams could be eliminated. Some electives and AP courses could also be reduced.

Victoria Druley with Kids First Medina has been advocating in her community for the passage of the March levy.

“I want to live in a community that supports its members top to bottom,” Druley said. “When I think about the relationship that I have with my children and what I want to see in the future, I hope that I have grandkids here, and the only way for that to happen is if my children decide that they want to come back to Medina to raise their kids and we need a strong school system for that to happen.” 

Druley has four children enrolled in Medina schools. She said all of them benefit from seeing a school guidance councilor, which she fears would stop if the levy does not pass.

Medina City Schools Superintendent Aarron Sable said if passed, the March levy would generate about $14 million per year and it would cost homeowners about about $263 a year for every $100,000 in home value.

“So that is to fund our day to day business of education and educating students,” Sable said. “So, that is paying for staff as well as paying for curriculum, maintaining our properties and anything and everything that goes into the operations of running a school district.” 

The superintendent said that the district is still facing cuts, regardless of whether the levy passes. The district has been identified as in “precaution status” by the state of Ohio, requiring them to put together a plan to reduce their defect spending. 

“So, we are looking at $8-$10 million in reductions in the next four years. However, we do not anticipate that those are going to have major impacts on overall student programming and we will be able to maintain the current programing we have in place,” he said. “It is very important that we do pass a levy this calendar year. If we aren’t successful in March, I do anticipate that we will be looking at much more in-depth reductions.” 

He adds that Medina City Schools have not received new operating money for the last 11 years. 

“We made a commitment to our community that we would not come to them and ask for new money until we really needed it,” he explained. “When we came to the community in November and asked for new money we needed it. So when that money didn’t pass it quickly put us into precaution state.” 

Voters will make their voices heard on this issue at the pools on March 19.