Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland School District Board of Education met via Zoom/YouTube on Tuesday, June 2 to revisit the 2020-21 Commitments to the District Vision, the Portrait of a Tiger, the five-year financial forecast, and levy cycle scenarios. They also discussed possible Pay to Play/Participate fee increases.
During the live District broadcast of the meeting, possible new operating levy scenarios were discussed by the Board and staff, but the documents they were reading from were not available to the public.
The documents can now be view here because of a public record request made by Loveland Magazine.
To view these documents (seen below the video) as a larger image and in a correct visual orientation, you can “Right Click” each to open in a new tab. You can also view the document file here as the .pdf the District provided. Levy Scenarios
Treasurer Kevin Hawley presents the different levy scenarios at the 53:54 minute mark of the video.
Possible Pay to Play/Participate fee increases is discussed at the 30:21 minute mark of the video.
To view the Treasure’s discussion of the Five Year Forecast at the May 28 Board of Education meeting watch the video below.
If you believe the time and effort involved in reporting this type of news is valuable to your life as a resident of the Loveland community, please support and reward our efforts.
Your reward is knowing you are helping keep your fellow residents informed about the Loveland Schools, a subject of incalculable interest to you as a taxpayer, our teachers, and of course our children.
David Miller is the Editor and Publisher of Loveland Magazine
by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – Last Thursday was the last day of school for children and staff at the Loveland Primary School and the traditional goodbye was much like any other year because of the cheering and tearing.
Usually the teachers and staff line up as buses and parents drive the children away to begin their summer break, but on Thursday afternoon parents drove their children to the school campus and to the back parking lot where teachers and staff had formed a chute to be driven through so everyone could wave and shout their goodbyes. One family even rode bicycles through the middle.
One young man navigated the waves in a speed boat.
There were many homemade signs and decorations, bubbles blowing, and music blasting.
Click on any picture to see a larger view or click on the first one and keep on clicking to see them all.
I apologize that it was just not possible to capture the faces of every child that was there that day.
Loveland, Ohio – LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV captured the Zoom/Youtube meeting of the Loveland School Board on Thursday because the District prohibits further viewing immediately after the end of their meetings. The public can only view their on-line meetings as they take place.
Loveland Magazine captures the video and publishes it so it is archived and can be watched at the public’s leisure. You can watch Part 1 through 4 of the videos and read the meeting agenda below.
If you believe the time and effort involved in reporting this type of news is valuable to your life as a resident of the Loveland community, please support and reward our efforts. This story alone required 8 hours and expensive equipment to produce. 623 people have viewed the video on our Facebook Page so we feel our effort adds value to the community. DO YOU?
Your reward is knowing you are helping keep your fellow residents informed about the Loveland Schools, a subject of incalculable interest to you as a taxpayer, our teachers, and of course our children.
AGENDA
(Items in blue indicate a link for supporting documents)
9.4 Approval of transfer from general fund to “Turf Field Replacement” fund 018-9117 (Motion to authorize the Treasurer to transfer $20,000.00 from the general fund to the “Turf Field Replacement” fund 018-9117.)
10.2 Approve Resolution to Initiate Procedures under Ohio Law for the Retirement and Reemployment of Dara Hudson as a part time French and Spanish Teacher for the 2020-2021 School Year
11.1 Enter into Executive Session to review negotiations with public employees concerning compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment.
12. Meeting Closing
12.1 Adjournment
If you believe the time and effort involved in reporting this type of news is valuable to your life as a resident of the Loveland community, please support and reward our efforts. This story alone required 8 hours and expensive equipment to produce.
Your reward is knowing you are helping keep your fellow residents informed about the Loveland Schools, a subject of incalculable interest to you as a taxpayer, our teachers, and of course our children.
As I reflect on what I can do as white woman in America to change our society, I am overwhelmed with doubt and uncertainty.
by Trinity Mahan Walsh
I grew up with White Privilege that I didn’t even know I had. Growing up in Loveland in the 80’s and 90’s, it was a pretty white town. I went to Loveland Schools for 13 years, with maybe 3-5 classmates of color. It never seemed weird to me, but I did notice. We really didn’t talk about race in my house. Not because we were afraid to talk about it or my parents are bad people (they are loving and wonderful), but it just wasn’t anything we “needed” to consider. White privilege.
Trinity Mahan Walsh grew up in Loveland, Ohio, graduated LHS in 1994, and is now a Guidance Counselor at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Kentucky.
I often thought about what it was like for my black classmates to live in Loveland. To be a very, very small minority in our school and town. It wasn’t until I was in high school, I had my first real black friend. Yep… HIGH SCHOOL! I wasn’t as brave as I am now to ask the question, “How do you feel living here?” I am sure it was hard, but I am grateful for her seeing me as “safe” and accepting. I wanted to be her friend because she is awesome and not because she is black.
I’ve always considered myself to be accepting of everyone and the least racist person around. As I reflect on my friend choices over the years, I must have known early on who had the same types of life views as me, as I am still friends with several of those people today. But still, my circle of friends doesn’t include too many people of color. I’d like to believe that this isn’t a choice, it’s just how my life is, but now as I really think about it, it is a choice.
I live in a predominantly white community and work at a predominately white school. Searching out friends of color to say that I have diverse friends seems disingenuous. I don’t avoid it, my life is such that I very rarely travel in circles where my diversity factor could even be expanded.
Why did I move to a town much like where I grew up? Comfort. Is that bad to say? I don’t think so. We all want to live where we are comfortable. Does it help expand our understanding of each other as human beings? Not necessarily, but we can choose to find other ways to make sure we do find ways to understand each other.
I don’t mind if I look “stupid” because I can guarantee that these white faced teenagers have the same questions as me.
Trinity Mahan Walsh and fellow educator Elise Carter
One of the greatest blessings in my life has been my friendship with Elise Carter. You guessed it… she’s black. She and I have the most frank and honest conversations about what it’s like to be a person of color, especially working in a predominately white school.
She has opened my eyes to issues that I didn’t know existed… not because I chose to look the other way, but as a part of my white privilege I never had to consider. And, what I consider to be the most powerful part of our friendship is that we OPENLY talk about race issues.
At the high school where we work, she and I often have very honest and frank conversations in front of students. I don’t mind if I look “stupid” because I can guarantee that these white faced teenagers have the same questions as me. And, like I was in high school with my friend, they are too ashamed and scared to ask the questions. So I will ask for them.
I want them to see that she and I can have real conversations about what it’s like to be a person of color in America. She will be the first to tell the students, “I am not a spokesperson for the black community, but I will give you my perspective.” Probably one of the most powerful conversations we can have with the students is to tell them, it’s OK to call her black. She IS black! “Guys, you can call me black. I know I am! Are you offended when I call you white?” This is a common phrase from her.
One of the most heartbreaking conversations that we have ever had is about “the talk.”
One of the most heartbreaking conversations that we have ever had is about “the talk.” As we started that conversation, I honestly and truly thought we were having a totally different conversation. I couldn’t understand why she was talking to me about giving her then 5-year-old son “the talk.”
As a mother of white boys “the talk” is about sex.
As a mother of black boys “the talk” is VERY different. It was never something I had ever thought about; I didn’t have to. And if you are like me, and are still wondering what “the talk” is, ask yourself these questions: Do I have to warn my son about the way he approaches a white woman? Do I have to warn my son that when he is running, it might appear that he is not just getting exercise? Do I have to warn my son that when he is 16 and gets pulled over for going a few miles over the speed limit, the situation can turn ugly very, very quickly? Do I have to warn my son that when he is hanging out with his white friends and things get rowdy, he might be the one blamed for anything that might go wrong?
And this list goes on and on.
I want to break into tears when I think about anyone ever wanting to harm her son just because of the color of his skin. It hurts me to my core. He is kind, loving, inquisitive, and hilarious – just the same as any other 7-year-old boy. And it isn’t just her son, but every mother’s black son.
If you’re a dumb white girl with white privilege like me, start asking questions.
I am grateful every day that she is willing to be my friend and continues to educate this white girl about the reality of the world. If you’re a dumb white girl with white privilege like me, start asking questions. IT IS OK! We can only get better as a society when we start asking each other what it’s like to be them. You may not be able to relate personally, but you certainly can try and understand.
I am trying, and when I don’t hit the mark, I hope that someone calls me out on it.
I wasn’t raised to be racist or not racist. And now recognizing that white privilege, I am trying to make some different choices in raising my children with open and honest conversations about the world we live in. I am trying, and when I don’t hit the mark, I hope that someone calls me out on it.
You may judge what is happening with riots in your own personal way. You don’t have to agree with what is happening around our country, but just consider the why.
As I reflect on what I can do as white woman in America to change our society, I am overwhelmed with doubt and uncertainty. What I know I can do is to keep having those open and frank conversations with Elise and with our students. I am an educator, and that is my gift. This is one way that I can use it. You don’t need to be a trained educator though to have these conversations, too.
I’ll leave you with this one last thought…
I’ll leave you with this one last thought… do not surround yourselves with people only like you. Your face-to-face personal interactions, but even easier on social media. I am “friends” with so many different types of people with so many different perspectives on the world on social media. I actively choose to not de-friend people who have sometimes very different views than me. Yes, sometimes what they post makes me mad – raging mad – but I cannot grow as a person if I do not read what they are saying, consider it, and then come to my own conclusion. The greatest gift we can give each other is agreeing to disagree, but at the same time agree to just be good and loving humans.
If you need some more perspective on the issue of “the talk,” take a few minutes to read this powerful article:
Loveland, Ohio – Many High School Seniors across Ohio didn’t get the graduation they had in mind this year, so several High Schools are now taking the initiative to honor their Seniors through virtual graduation ceremonies or moving assemblies through the town in which the High School is located. Loveland High Seniors recently celebrated with a moving assembly that took place on Friday, May 22nd at 7 PM.
During the 2020 LHS Senior Class Moving Assembly each Senior’s “quaranTEAM” drove through previously selected Loveland neighborhoods so that the community could not only celebrate the Seniors but also wish them luck with their future endeavors! The moving assembly began at LHS, while of course keeping in mind Ohio’s social distancing requirements, and proceeded using 1 pre-planned 52 minutes route with 4 sections through all of Loveland. Below is the route the LHS “quaranTEAM’s” took last Friday!
The Entire Route Map
Loveland was covered in orange and black as many LHS Seniors wearing their cap and gown and their “quaranTEAM” paraded throughout the community in their decorated cars! LHS’s Seniors were encouraged to be creative when decorating their cars so many vehicles included the grad’s name on the window followed by something “Loveland” inspired, military flags, or the college the grad would be attending in the Fall. As the procession made its way through Loveland several Seniors and their teams “laid” on the horns and cranked their radios in celebration of the class of 2020!
Loveland Magazine was lucky enough to capture the 2020 LHS Seniors in action during the entirety of their moving assembly last Friday as it crossed the Loveland Bike Trail in Historic Loveland! Join us in congratulating LHS’s class of 2020 by enjoying the moving assembly video below!
Loveland, Ohio – “My Voice, My Choice” is a Loveland District student recognition program where teachers and staff nominate students who, “contribute to a more compassionate culture at their school through their good deeds and kind words.” The program is focused on creating a positive school climate by encouraging students to “stand up for their peers” in both words and actions. It is an anti-bullying initiative.
The honorees are typically brought to half-court or the 50-yard line at a varsity basketball or football game so they can be given a certificate and be held in high esteem before a large crowd.
This Spring, because of all of the many COVID 19 changes in the practices of the District, the awards were announced at last night’s “Zoom/YouTube” Board meeting when a video that was produced by high school counselor and Chair of the program Jamie Gordon was “Zoomed” for people who had tuned in to watch the meeting.
Because the meeting was only available to viewers in “real-time” while the meeting was taking place, Loveland Magazine brings it to you so the students and their parents can now watch it at their leisure and share it with friends and family. The District deletes their meeting videos as soon as they are adjourned.
During the meeting there was also discussion about the students before and after the video was shown. That discussion is also now available because LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV captured the meeting and it is now archived. You can watch the entire Board meeting HERE on our Facebook Page or see just the “My Voice, My Choice” discussion at 1:08 minute of our video.
Loveland, Ohio – The March 17 Primary Election results have now been reported by the Hamilton, Clermont, and Warren County Board of Elections.
On election night the preliminary result was 3,844 votes for the levy and 5,766 against the levy. After counting all votes there are 57 additional votes for the levy and 104 additional votes against the levy.
Below, are now the “Official” final results as reported by each BOE.
Loveland, Ohio – With “Summary/Unofficial” results, the Loveland City School District operating levy of 6.95 mills is failing in all three counties as of 6:30 AM Wednesday morning.
All mail-in ballots and provisional ballots will still have to be tabulated in the days to come. The mail-in ballots needed a postmark of April 27, so some of those ballots will still have to be received from the Post Office. Validly cast provisional ballots also will need to be tabulated.
Hamilton County says they will need 2-3 weeks to publish final results.
Clermont County
YES – 1,988
NO – 2,741
Hamilton County
YES – 1780
NO – 2921
Warren County
YES 76
NO 104
TOTAL
YES – 3844
NO – 5766
In a statement posted on the District web site, Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse said, “We accept the outcome and respect the decision voters made, but this is a devastating loss for our schools. At this time of national and global uncertainty, we will also prepare to start the new school year in August with a significantly reduced budget, which will directly impact programs, class size, and services to our students. In addition, we will have to start preparing to go back on the ballot. This is unfortunately how school funding works in Ohio.”
As of this morning, the “Loveland Voice” Political Action Committee has not issued a statement only posting preliminary results on their FaceBook page. Loveland Voice had organized to actively oppose the levy.
The District statement also said:
In addition to the $2.7 million in expense reductions already made in 2019, significant cuts will be made to the operating budget in the coming months. These reductions include, among others, the elimination of at least 25 administrative, teaching and non-teaching staff positions, and the elimination of high school busing.
“Yes for Loveland” the Political Action Committee supporting the school levy posted this message on their FaceBook page 3 hours ago:
According to current results, it appears the Loveland Community has voted to NOT pass the Operating Levy. Official results will be reported in 2 – 3 weeks.
We appreciate all of your hard work and support this year. We understand we have to rally together once again to find the answer to funding the district for our children. We will do this together.
Seeing the out pour of love for one another and the care of our community gives us all hope in this time of a pandemic. Continue to support and take care of one another. We’re all in this together!
While many in Loveland are losing their jobs and their businesses, our school board persists in asking us to raise our taxes. As it stands today, they may very well get their way simply by virtue of low voter turnout. So, if you
Kim and Rick Donaldson live on Paxton Road in Miami Township
haven’t already done so, apply for an absentee ballot now. The primary election originally scheduled for March 17th is now by mail only. Completed ballots must be postmarked no later than midnight, April 27th or dropped off at your county board of elections by 7:00 PM April 28th. Since you will first need to apply to have a ballot mailed to you, there is no time to lose.
Now back to the original question: should our school taxes be increased? We are told that additional funding is needed to “protect our progress”. This would imply that past increases have improved district performance. However, according to Ohio Department of Education data, Loveland’s overall performance index score ranked in the top 15% of Ohio schools from 2010 through 2014, with correspondingly high overall grades. In 2015, Loveland’s performance dropped precipitously, nearly to the bottom 25%. Various explanations have been floated for this drop: Common Core implementation, testing changes, students opting out of testing, etc. Available data do not definitively show what the explanation is, but it does show what it isn’t: spending. Referring to the first chart, note that Loveland’s 2019 overall performance is virtually identical to its 2010 to 2014 performance, but expenditure per pupil is as much as 20% higher after adjusting for inflation.Also note that Loveland’s performance had already recovered to pre-2015 levels by 2018, before the big ramp-up in expenditure.
Graph provided by Kim and Rick Donaldson
Since increased funding doesn’t seem to be improving our district’s rating, it is difficult to see exactly what progress we are protecting. Moreover, if we are to invest more of our hard-earned and increasingly scarce money in the schools, we expect to reap some benefit as a community. So far, our children don’t seem to have reaped the benefit of a better education and our property owners haven’t reaped the benefit of the appreciation that should result from a better-rated school system. However, there is one segment of the community who has reaped the benefit: teachers.
According to Ohio Department of Education data, presented in the second chart, Loveland’s average teacher salary was $63,566 in 2010, which was about average for an Ohio school district with similar demographics among both the community and the teachers. In 2019, Loveland’s average teacher salary had increased to $78,248, 10% above the comparable Ohio district average. Loveland’s average teacher salary has also risen faster than median income. In 2010, the average teacher salary was 28% above median income. By 2019 it had risen to 47% above median income. While some might argue that paying teachers more improves educational quality, Loveland’s teacher salary and performance trends do not support that claim. Statistical analysis of statewide trends also shows no practical benefit for paying teachers above-market salaries.
Graph provided by Kim and Rick Donaldson
We do not question the quality, dedication or professionalism of Loveland teachers. Nor do we fault them for negotiating the most favorable compensation package they can. It is the responsibility of the board of education and administration to negotiate effectively on behalf of the Loveland community at large to deliver a high-quality education at a cost we can afford. Sadly, they do not seem to be doing an adequate job of cost control at a time when residents cannot afford to pay more.
While no one knows how severe the current economic downturn will be or how long it will last, we do know the proposed levy will cost property owners an additional $20 per month for each $100,000 of appraised value, forever. Under the circumstances, it would be appropriate for the Loveland School Board to withdraw the levy, and we wholeheartedly agree with those who have already called on them to do so. However, the board’s past behavior indicates they are unlikely to heed those calls. The only way we can stop this levy and impose fiscally responsibility is to get an absentee ballot and vote no.
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by Cassie Mattia
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