Our youngest Loveland Tigers know these three words well. Here in Loveland schools, we care for each other.We respect each other. And we take responsibility for our words and actions.
The Loveland Board of Education strives to do our best to live up to the expectations our teachers and staff have for our students. We care about each and every member of our school community and demonstrate that with leadership and fiscal responsibility. That care means we regularly need to place tax levies on the ballot in order to ensure the operation of programs that our students need and deserve.
The way taxes work in Ohio means that a school board respects the right of our district citizens to vote on these levies. We need to show the necessity for new operating funds and do so with the publishing of budgets, expenditures, and five-year forecasts. We publish the evidence of the success of our students as well.
The last operating levy passed in 2014 was designed to move the district from a “stay put” mode of operation to a time of forward progress and was strongly supported by our community. Our teachers and students delivered significant achievements as a result of that change in direction and now we need to protect that investment and optimize that effort.
Acting responsibly means telling the truth and sometimes means that you cannot respond in kind when false, harmful accusations are made.
Acting responsibly means telling the truth and sometimes means that you cannot respond in kind when false, harmful accusations are made.But responsible public servants also stand up for what is true. There are many false statements being made about the March 2020 levy, about the Board of Education, and about the people who work with us and for us. The Loveland school district and this Board of Education are committed to optimizing resources, to extending the adequacy of 2020 levy funds as long as possible, and to continuing progress for Loveland students.
Please take the time to review the information on our website, lovelandschools.org under the levy tab.Take the time to talk to our board and our administrators.Attend a board meeting or an information session.Get the right information right now.
We know our community cares about our schools. We respect the right of our citizens to vote on March 17. Each of us has a great responsibility for the future of Loveland schools.
Kathryn Lorenz is the President of the Loveland Board of Education and lives in Miami Township
Juliet Tissot is a District resident and lives in Miami Trails
TheLoveland City School District (LCSD) operating levy shouldn’t even be on the ballot yet.It’s too early and taxpayers are being fleeced yet again.
I say “it’s too early” but not for the reasons you’ve heard before. Some people think it’s too early because the November levy suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of taxpayers and the board/administration should have taken more time to build trust within their community and present a reasonable budget.I say “it’s too early” because if it weren’t for the administration’s reckless spending in 2019 the 2014 operating levy could have lasted another two years and taxpayers would have been able to hold onto their hard earned money a little longer without the school suffering at all.
During the 2018-19 school year, Dr. Crouse’s first year as superintendent, operating expenses were increased by $6 million ($49,183,909 – $55,568,450).A six million dollar increase in one school year is outrageous especially when you find out no superintendent before her increased operating expenses by more than $2 million in one year.Dr. Crouse tripled the increase of any other superintendent before her and she did it the year before she put an enormous levy on the ballot, begging tax payers for more money, claiming the district was broke and laying off teachers.Had Dr. Crouse increased spending the same amount as others before her, or even a little more, the money could have lasted two more years and teachers would not have lost their jobs.The 2019, the $6 million increase in operating expenses was an increase of 13% while the average operating expense increase for all public schools in Ohio (~600) was only 4%.
Why should tax payers reach deeper in their pockets, two years early, to reward such reckless spending?
Why should tax payers reach deeper in their pockets, two years early, to reward such reckless spending?
Some will answer that question with the typical Levy 101 bumper sticker response, “It’s for the kids!”But is it really for the kids?Since 2013, enrollment in the Loveland City School District declined by 200 students (4,715 – 4,510).During that same time period, Loveland City School district hired 10 full time equivalent (FTE) administrators (16.5 – 27).Why would LCSD hire so many administrators when we have so many fewer students? In 2019, the average salary of FTE administrators increased 14% ($86,320 – $98,224).The administration tries to explain these salary numbers away by saying people were moved from part time to full time positions but their claims aren’t supported by the CUPP Report** which shows the number of full time administrators didn’t change from 2018-19 (26.8 – 27). Why would LCSD make these salary adjustments the year before coming to taxpayers for more money?
Others will answer that question with another bumper sticker, “Sustain, Maintain and Protect”, claiming the levy is needed to maintain the status quo.Why would so much money be needed if we’re just maintaining the status quo?The administration promises to only increase expenditures 3% a year going forward.Well, 3% of $55 million is $1.65 million.Yet the levy on the ballot will generate $6.25 million a year.If the administration is only going to increase spending $1.65 million a year why do they need to increase revenue $6.25 million a year?Even if you account for compounding the increase and add extra money for unforeseen needs you’ll still see the ask dramatically outweighs the need. When making a decision about taxes, citizens should rely on facts not emotions.The facts will tell you this levy is too soon and too big.Levys in Loveland are always permanent therefore they are always in addition to what you are already paying.This levy will increase taxes in Loveland by $243 a year for each $100,000 worth of home value.Lovelanders have routinely voted to approve levies, pumping the school’s coffers full of money and yet in 2019 Loveland received the same overall grade as Little Miami on the state report card (B).Little Miami went through a stretch of not passing a levy for ten years.This proves you can’t buy better grades.So why are they asking for so much?Your children are judged by their grades, should the district be held to a different standard?
Finally, keep in mind… the school district will come back for even more operating money in just four years, and sometime between now and then, a bond and permanent improvement levy will be on the ballot as well.
Be prepared for your taxes to skyrocket!
VOTE NO on March 17th.
**The CUPP report is a report issued by the Ohio Dept of Education and is compiled of numbers submitted by the district. The report is available online.
The November 2019 election is over and the community obviously didn’t support the Loveland City School District’s long term master plan of new buildings, new property, etc. That’s history now.
Al Osgood, Jr. is a resident of the Loveland School District and lives in Miami Township
Based on the community feedback, the Loveland City School District is now asking for just the opposite end of the spectrum – a bare bones request to maintain current operations less $2.7 million in current spending reductions that are already being implemented. This is the 6.95 mill request on the March 17th ballot.
Failure of a bare bones request in March will have monumental implications for our schools and our community. Before casting a NO vote, please think twice about the following:
It has been six years since the last tax increase for the schools. We can’t expect strong schools if we don’t support a reasonable increase after six years. We can’t penalize the schools because the state of Ohio school funding is flawed and has been ruled unconstitutional.
The failure of a bare bones request will most certainly negatively impact our community and our property values. We can look to neighboring communities like Little Miami to learn how failed levies impact property values and how long it takes for them to recover.
The District has been transparent about what happens if the March levy fails. The firing of 25 staff, increased class size, elimination of high school busing just to name a few. None of these are positives for our community, our schools, or our students. We can’t let that happen.
The firing of 25 staff will have a tremendous negative impact on the programming and education that our students receive. We can’t let that happen.
Continued levy failures will encourage our amazing teachers to go elsewhere just making matters worse. We can’t let that happen. How many years would it take to redevelop that dedication and expertise?
Please don’t rationalize that “well, they will just come back in November with less”. March is less and November is ugly with negative changes between now and then that will take years to reverse.
Before voting no, please think twice.
Before voting no, please think twice that this is a very different request than the previous request and seriously consider the major negative impact that continued levy failures will have on our community, our students, and our property values. As a community, are we really ready to go down the path of continued levy failures? For $243 per year per $100,000 of appraised home value, after no increases for six years, I certainly hope not. Please vote YES on March 17th to protect our community, our schools, our students and our property values. It will be well worth the investment.
Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty is pleased to announce that more than three dozen politically prominent Ohio conservatives have signed a Statement of Support to End the Death Penalty.
The statement says, in part, “We have come to the conclusion that the death penalty does not work and can’t be made to work, not in spite of our conservative principles, but because of them.”
Signatories to the statement include former Ohio Republican standard-bearers such as Gov. Bob Taft, Attorney General Jim Petro, and Congressman Pat Tiberi, along with several current GOP legislators and numerous high-ranking Republican political professionals.
The full Statement of Support to End the Death Penalty and the complete list of endorsers will be released at a news conference announcing the formation of Ohio Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty on Tuesday, February 18, at 11:00 a.m. in the Ladies’ Gallery at the State Capitol in Columbus.
“Conservative Republicans in Ohio are increasingly becoming aware of the failures of an error-prone and expensive death penalty system that does nothing to make citizens of the state safer,” said Hannah Cox, National Manager of Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty. “Many of Ohio’s leading conservatives, people who have supported the death penalty their entire lives, are now changing their minds based on what they have learned.”
Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty is a nationwide group of conservatives questioning whether capital punishment is consistent with conservative principles and values due to the system’s inefficiency, inequity, and inaccuracy. Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty is a project of Equal Justice USA, a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization working transform the justice system by promoting responses to violence that break cycles of trauma. To learn more, go to www.conservativesconcerned.org.
Jim Hooper lives in the Loveland High School neighborhood
Jim Hooper
Catchy common phrase. Heard it used a couple times at the LCSD Adhoc committee meetings. Thought I ‘d try it out to gain perspective on the LCSD Levy situation.
Whoa, it’s high up here!
I see Loveland as a whole, comprised mainly of ranch style homes, modest neighborhoods, occupied by homesteader types who have lived in Loveland for decades – more semi-rural/rural than urban. Look down on West Loveland Ave, Rich Road, Rte 48, The Heights, Lebanon Road, the Glen Lake neighborhood, out towards Grailville , all the smaller roads off these arteries and you will see Loveland. Pocketed among these byways are sub-divisions like Chatham Woods, Pheasant Hills on the Lake, Woodford, White Pillars.
I see the Loveland School system. Led by the Board of Ed and the LCSD Superintendent. The BOE members are elected officials which automatically makes them politicians, whether they see themselves that way or not. We all know how politics works – from the local constituency the politician seeks out his/her core bloc of voters, those voters who will deliver the necessary votes to successfully elect. These politicians (BOE) are beholden to this core bloc. The bloc group influences the Board by way of their backing.
So what influence does 2,447 bloc voters have on a School Board and Superintendent?
In the case of the LCSDBoard of Ed I think we can fairly safely establish the core bloc of voters is 2,447 persons. I am thinking anyone voting FOR a 16.78 mil levy is definitely a BOE core bloc voter. So what influence does 2,447 bloc voters have on a School Board and Superintendent?A LOT!Especially under the “normal circumstances” of a levy issue – off year voting, little interest by the silent majority who assume their financial
The “Board Whisperers”
interests are being conservatively managed – the 2,447 voter bloc, under these conditions, pretty much guarantees the election of their candidates.And, pretty much guarantees the Board of Ed will be very receptive listeners. These people are the Board influencers – the “Board Whisperers” – the people in the ear of the Board members. They are the localized version of lobbyists. And, many of them are inside the school system where their voice is amplified many times over. Their job circumstances are directly impacted by money the LCSD spends.
Now I’m listening, now I’m reading, now I’m researching, now I’m in it with both feet.
Now under normal conditions, I don’t really mind this influencing activity. The only time I would perk up my ears and take an outsized interest would be, let me think,perhaps when this influencing campaign produced an unheard of, unconscionable, state record 16.78mil levy. Now I’m listening, now I’m reading, now I’m researching, now I’m in it with both feet.
I have heard a lot about trajectory, vision, maintaining forward growth, maintaining gains. Hey, I’m all for it! I support 2-3% trajectory, 2-3% vision gains, 2-3% growth gains. I fully support increase in hard work, efficiency, increased productivity. I fully support the LCSD taking baby steps to move up the rankings ladder. Set a vision of moving up 5 steps at a time. Great! Let’s not set a vision to move from a Value-Added rank of 433 to 22. I applaud the excellent 22 ranking. I do not applaud the fact that a lot of taxpayer dollars went into buying that result!
You know, the Bengals could be in the Super Bowl – all it takes is spending$$$. You know, the Reds could be in the World Series, all it takes is spending $$$. You know, the LCSD could be better than Indian Hill and Sycamore – all it takes is spending $$$ – taxpayer money!
My opinion is that there are “silent agendas” in our schools that the silent majority know nothing about.
Returning to the LCSD/Superintendent vision for LCSD. Firstly, what is that vision? I know only one thing about it – it costs lots of money($$$). Sorry, I do know another thing, that 78% of voters do not know Dr. Crouse’s vision for LCSD. Although, I am beginning to get some hints – $6,365,528 spent on technology improvements. Is this a Dr. Crouse vision, to be the most technologically advanced school system in the area. A four year 69.1% spending increase in “Support for the Instructional Staff”. $5,717,737 spent with Hamilton County ESC over 5 years. My opinion is that there are “silent agendas” in our schools that the silent majority know nothing about. These silent agendas are driven by the “Board Whisperers” – backed up by their votes at election time.
The taxpayer asked for $20/month over and over doesn’t realize they are slowly being taxed to death.
Again let me say, I have no issue with school agendas moving forward at a conservative, sustainable, within a budget pace ( 2-3% a year). I do have a huge problem with the LCSD making quantum leaps bought with my tax dollars. Now I have heard it said, “it is only $20.27/month per $100,000 appraised home value. Let me use an old saying – the frog in a pot of cold water over low heat doesn’t realize it is being slowly boiled to death – and the taxpayer asked for $20/month over and over doesn’t realize they are slowly being taxed to death.
What is really beginning to bother me is the total lack of self-reflection by the 22%. Based upon all I have read on social media the attitude is that “nothing wrong here – nothing to see here”, we know what is right, you (78%) are uninformed, and get out of our way. I must interpret that to mean spending will continue unabated. Not exactly the response hoped for (or expected) after a 78% to 22% drubbing at the polls.
I also hoped the myriad of testimonials from “forever” Yes voters that had been pushed to the difficult position of voting No would have enlightened the minority to question maybe something does need to change.
A consequence of losing a vote by a landslide 78-22% and in so doing shattering a trust that had been working for decades is the “trust but verify” is now “verify, verify, verify”. All aspects of the LCSD are now under a microscope for review.
The child learns not to touch a hot stove once; it seems the adults must touch the hot stove twice before a lesson is learned.
I am a “Know Vote”!
Jim Hooper lives in the Loveland High School neighborhood
Click to watch the interview Cassie Mattia did with Delaney Dunlap
My Mom, her grandma, had to talk me off the ledge when we found out about her condition 5 months before she was born. I was beside myself with thoughts of my child not fitting in, or being made fun of, or not doing what other kids can do… and all my Mom kept saying was, “She will be awesome, she will inspire others”. I brushed it off as Mom speak – don’t know why I did that since she was right most of the time, but I did. I do see now what she meant..
Delaney is strong-willed and independent and I couldn’t be more proud watching her have a conversation with you about it.
It really is a testament to this community, her friends, and her teachers just to name a few, who have nurtured her growth along the way.
Thanks again to you and David Miller for stepping out and showcasing what makes Loveland such a great place to live.
Read the full story about why Delaney Dunlap is in Loveland’s DNA…
11 Year Old Local is “Tumbling” into a Bright Future!
WOW! Another HUGE success!! On December 19, 2019, the Loveland Initiative held its 22nd Annual Christmas Toy Store program. The program served well over 250 children. This would not have happened if not for all of YOU our wonderful and generous supporters. The Tracy Johnson Scholarship awards one thousand five hundred dollars to a student with financial need in Loveland.
We are SO PROUD of the AWESOME community we live in. Loveland is very generous by providing support to underserved families, with amazing toys for children. What joy it is for these families to go shopping and pick out toys they want to give. Our families look forward to this and as one mom said while shopping “This program is a blessing.”
Leaving with those bags of gifts for their children they love is a blessing. You can tell by looking at their faces. They are so proud of what they have chosen for their children. What a gift this community gives them! Encouraging them to make choices and get nice things for the ones they love. Priceless! The toys they choose from are endless, all donated and collected each year for these families to pick from.
Each year that I attend the Christmas Toy Store program, I am amazed at the amount of time and energy that my two leads; Mary Hensley and Shionee Blust Sergist put into this program is inspiring. A HUGE thank you to Mary and Shionee for their hard work, and to our board members for volunteering their time with the program is so very much appreciated. As always, there are more volunteers involved and you can see the joy they have helping families knowing that they are making a difference. A HUGE thank you to all of our volunteers. YOU ARE AMAZING!!
A HUGE thank you to the Loveland Moose Lodge for hosting us for the seventh year in a row. A SPECIAL thank you to Bond Furniture & Design for lending their location as a drop off spot. A HUGE thank you to Loveland City Schools, Loveland Board Office, Loveland Transportation, LES Compassion project, LHS Senior Service Members and the staff, students and their families, for donating monetary funds, toys and gifts. Words cannot express how helpful this was to us! A VERY HUGE thank you to ALL of our other donors for helping us make Loveland children’s Christmas brighter. A SPECIAL thank you to Loveland Magazine for their promotional support. Thank you so very much for your support and for giving back to the Loveland community!
I am so grateful to be a part of this giving and caring community. Thank you all for everything you do for the families in Loveland! We look forward to a continuing partnership with you.
LHS Senior Service Members planned and organize a toy drive for the Loveland Initiative Christmas Toy Store Program. Sam Greenerg, Olivia Von Deylen, and Anna Svitkovich. are the leaders that worked with their teacher advisors, Catherine Belknap, and Kristin Scherman for a successful event. The entire group of Senior Service Members and student body raised funds and collected toys and gifts.
“The goal of the Senior Service Members is to serve and learn the true meaning of empathy while seeing their community from a different perspective.”
On December 19, the program served well over 250 children. This would not have happened if not for all of YOU our wonderful and generous supporters. The Tracy Johnson Scholarship awards one thousand five hundred dollars to a student with financial need in Loveland.
We are SO PROUD of our AWESOME community we live in. Loveland is very generous by providing support to underserved families, with amazing toys for children. What joy it is for these families to go shopping and pick out toys they want to give. Our families look forward to this and as one mom said while shopping, “This program is a blessing.”
Leaving with those bags of gifts for their children they love is a blessing. You can tell by looking at their faces. They are so proud of what they have chosen for their children. What a gift this community gives them! Encouraging them to make choices and get nice things for the ones they love. Priceless! The toys they choose from are endless, all donated and collected each year for these families to pick from.
The Senior Service Members succeeded their goal by supporting the Loveland Initiative mission which is to provide educational support and assistance to underserved children and their families. A VERY HUGE thank you to ALL LHS Senior Service Members, Teacher Advisors and the entire student body for helping us make Loveland children’s Christmas brighter.
I am so grateful to be a part of this giving and caring community. Thank you all for everything you do for the families in the Loveland community! We look forward to a continuing partnership with you.
Parents of middle school and high school students often don’t realize that attending a career-technical school can be an advantage for college-bound students, says education consultant Beth Probst of At The Core, LLC. “Attending a career center like Great Oaks in the Cincinnati area can provide experience, connections, professional credentials, college credit, and even a sense of purpose for students who plan to attend college,” she said, “But sometimes parents get focused on one single path for their kids.”
Attending a career-technical school can be an advantage for college-bound students.
That realization prompted her to begin offering free coffee chats for parents in southwestern and central Ohio to discuss the paths available. Probst, who works with families on college and career planning, is a believer in career-technical schools. “Like many parents, I had a perception of career centers from my own high school experience years ago. When I saw all that today’s career centers offer our high school students, I was blown away and knew that parents like me needed to understand the value to their college-bound kids.”
The informal discussions include information on potential educational and career options as well as how to maximize the high school experience to be prepared for college.
Four coffee chats, sponsored by Great Oaks Career Campuses and At The Core, are scheduled for southwest Ohio this winter. The chats are for parents of 6th-10th graders living in Great Oaks—affiliated school districts. They are:
Loveland City Hall
Wednesday, January 15 – 6:30 to 8:00 pm: Loveland City Hall, 120 West Loveland Avenue, Council Chambers Room, Loveland, OH 45140
Symmes Township Branch Library
Thursday, January 23 – 6:30 to 8:00 pm: Symmes Township Branch Library, 11850 Enyart Road, Meeting Room, Loveland, OH 45140
Wyoming Library
Monday, January 27 – 6:00 to 7:30 pm: Wyoming Library, 500 Springfield Pike, Meeting Room, Cincinnati, OH 45215
Happy New Year! The Loveland LIFE Food Pantry would like to stop and take a moment to send out the sincerest thank you to all the volunteers who gave their time and donated gifts and money to help provide an amazing gifts to our neighbors in need in 2019.
Every year we are in awe of the generosity of our community to help support our mission and this year was no exception. With your help, we were able to provide gifts to over 400 of our Loveland neighbors through our Giving Shop program.
From the Loveland LIFE Food Pantry, we wish you and your family all the love your hearts can hold as we welcome in the New Year.
Others will answer that question with another bumper sticker, “Sustain, Maintain and Protect”, claiming the levy is needed to maintain the status quo.
buy better grades.
