Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: loveland school levy

  • A perspective on the Loveland School District levy

    A perspective on the Loveland School District levy

    by Tom Allen

    I’d like to take a few minutes of your time to share my perspective on the school levy that will be on the May ballot.

    I’m a 60-year-old, 30-year Loveland area resident with a home in the Loveland school district. I’m semi-retired and our children, who attended Loveland schools from K-12, are grown. Being semi-retired means, like many of you, I watch my spending closely. As someone who has always been proud of the Loveland Schools’ reputation and performance, the divide in our community from the past few levies has been disheartening. I have friends and neighbors on both sides of this issue. I have voted no in the past and I understand why people feel as they do about the situation.

    The perspective I want to share is fairly simple, and one that as fellow property owners I hope you will consider. I firmly believe it’s in all of our best interests to be more aligned this May.

    The premise is this: I understand that property values are subject to a variety of factors. I believe that school district performance is among the leading considerations of families looking to move to a new community. The way l see it a school district that does not support reasonable funding requests is destined for declining property values over time, as school performance and reputation declines. The reality is that things do cost more over time and it does cost to attract and retain top talent.

    Let’s say for the sake of argument that property values drop 10 percent over the next ten years. If your Loveland home was valued at the current Zillow average of $355,000, you will take a $35,500 hit when you sell it. That is a very significant loss. I would prefer to pay a few hundred dollars more each year to help maintain the good reputation of our schools, protect our property values and provide our students with a well-rounded educational experience.

    While each of us has reasons that affect our decisions about these levies, I believe what we have in common is that we all prosper when we have a high performing school district. I would like our state to provide a better funding mechanism for our public schools, but unfortunately, it doesn’t. I trust that our current school leaders are good stewards of our hard earned tax dollars and I believe that they reacted appropriately to our feedback when the District overreached.

    After voting against the oversized levy a few years ago, I will be voting yes on the May levy that will be on the ballot, mostly to help protect our property values. I’m willing to find the additional hundreds of dollars per year as an investment in education, our community and in all of our property values.

    I appreciate you giving this issue further consideration and I respect that each of you has the right to vote for what you believe is best for your situation.

  • Loveland Board to hold special meeting Thursday to discuss reopening plan

    Loveland Board to hold special meeting Thursday to discuss reopening plan

    August 26 is the first day for all students.

    Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland City School District Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday, August 6 at 5:30 PM to discuss the progress pertaining to the opening of Loveland Schools for the 2020-2021 school year.
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    The special meeting will be held virtually and live-streamed on the Loveland Board of Education’s YouTube channel.
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    The link for the meeting will be available in advance of the meeting on the district’s website at lovelandschools.org/BoardofEducation.aspx or go directly to the YouTube channel to view the meeting. The recording of the meeting will also be archived and available on YouTube.

    August 6 Board Special Meeting livestream link:
    https://youtu.be/rcCLCHcHWE0

    The district is currently offering both in-person and online learning options for the upcoming school year. Loveland parents/guardians must select the learning option (in-person or online) for their child(ren) for the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Loveland City School District has extended the deadline for online parent choice for all grade levels to August 9, 2020. Families can listen to the progress update at this special board meeting.

    “We want to ensure that our parents have the most current information and data available to support their decision-making for their child’s learning option this semester. We know many parents are struggling with this decision and we want to offer the best guidance possible,” said Loveland Superintendent, Dr. Amy Crouse.

    Loveland’s selection form for grades “K-12” will now be open until Sunday, August 9 at 11:55 p.m. Parents also have the option to change their selection by the August 9 deadline.

    August 26 is the first day for all students.

    Click on the links below to access the online selection forms.

    2020-2021 Selection Form: Grades K-4

    2020-2021 Selection Form: Grades 5-12

    The District also held a PK-4 virtual information meeting today and you can view it HERE.
  • Back to School Giveaway of PPE supplies to students and teachers

    Back to School Giveaway of PPE supplies to students and teachers

    Blue Ash, Ohio – Matthew 25 Ministries is partnering with P&G and City of Blue Ash to provide free back-to-school PPE supplies to students and teachers in the Greater Cincinnati community.

    Teachers and families can simply drive through the Matthew 25 parking lot to receive a free kit of supplies. With the start of the school year rapidly approaching, we hope to help both students and teachers stay safe and healthy during this unprecedented time.

    WHERE: Matthew 25: Ministries, 11060 Kenwood Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45242

    WHEN: Monday through Friday, August 3 – 7, from Noon – 4 PM daily

    IMPORTANT INFO:

    • Kits will only be distributed to students and/or teachers who are present in the vehicle.
    • Student kits will include masks, sanitizer, coloring book and crayons.
    • Teacher kits will include a face shield, masks, sanitizer and pens.
    • Teachers will be required to show their ID/credentials.
    • In an effort to best protect public health and maintain social distancing, recipients must remain in their vehicles while picking up supplies.

  • [Watch Video] What will a day for students in grades PK-6 look like?

    [Watch Video] What will a day for students in grades PK-6 look like?

    Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland City School District hosted a virtual meeting today to share the reopening plans for the 2020-2021 school year for students in grades PK-6.

    In unanimous vote Loveland Board of Education approves reopening plan

     

    Superintendent, Dr. Amy Crouse, Loveland Early Childhood Center Principal Jesse Kohls, Loveland Primary School Principal Kevin Fancher, Garth Carlier the Principal of Loveland Intermediate School, and Andrea Conner Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning spoke during the meeting.

    Yesterday the District hosted a similar virtual meeting for grades 7-12 and you view that meeting HERE.

    Here is the link for the Reopening Plan.

    You can also read the Reopening FAQs.

  • [Watch Video] What will a day at Loveland High and Middle School look like

    [Watch Video] What will a day at Loveland High and Middle School look like

    Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland City School District hosted a virtual meeting today to share the reopening plans for the 2020-2021 school year for students in grades 7-12. (In unanimous vote Loveland Board of Education approves reopening plan)

    Superintendent, Dr. Amy Crouse, High School Principal Peggy Johnson, Middle School Principal David Knapp, and Andrea Conner Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning spoke during the meeting.

    Tomorrow they will host the same style virtual meeting for grades  PK-6. You can watch tomorrow’s meeting on YouTube HERE. The meeting will be “live” between 11:30 AM and 1 PM. Thursday’s meeting will stream at https://youtu.be/-0z4eb_teFU.

  • District to host back-to-school information sessions

    District to host back-to-school information sessions

    Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland City School District will be hosting both virtual and in-person meetings to share the reopening plans for the 2020-2021 school year. (In unanimous vote Loveland Board of Education approves reopening plan)

    District and building administrators will be present to answer parent questions.

    The in-person sessions are reserved for families of current Loveland students.

     

    Wednesday, July 29   Students in grades 7-12

    11:30 AM until 1 PM  VIRTUAL MEETING via YouTube Live: https://youtu.be/idOPdhoSi8g

    Submit your questions in advance via this Google form.

    Wednesday, July 29   Students in grades 7-12

    6 until 8 PM  IN-PERSON MEETING in Loveland Intermediate School Cafeteria

    Presentation and Q and A.

    Sign up in advance at the following link in order for the District to maintain appropriate numbers (half of the normal capacity) and physical distancing: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050c45a8ac2faaf49-backtoschool

    Masks or facial coverings are required. Temperature checks will be given prior to entry into the meeting.

    Thursday, July 30   Students in grades PK-6

    11:30 AM until 1 PM  VIRTUAL MEETING via YouTube Live: https://youtu.be/-0z4eb_teFU

    Presentation and Q and A.

    Please submit your questions in advance via this Google form.

    Thursday, July 30   (students in grades PK-6): 

    6 until 8 PM  IN-PERSON MEETING in Loveland Intermediate School Cafeteria

    Presentation and Q and A.

    Sign up in advance at the following link in order for the District to maintain appropriate numbers (half of the normal capacity) and physical distancing: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050c45a8ac2faaf49-backtoschool1

    Masks or facial coverings are required. Temperature checks will be given prior to entry into the meeting.

     

    The District says that recordings of the meetings will be posted on the district website.

  • Here is how the Great Oaks campuses will open in the Fall

    Here is how the Great Oaks campuses will open in the Fall

    Here is how the Great Oaks campuses will open in the Fall.

    Please note:  The following information applies only to high school students at Great Oaks campuses.

    Our community, and the world, continues to adapt to the ongoing pandemic. In all that we do at Great Oaks, the safety and health of our students, staff and visitors is our highest priority. Whenever students, staff and visitors are together in a Great Oaks building, we expect that social distancing (at a minimum of 6 feet) is practiced, face coverings will be worn by all, and the buildings and equipment will be frequently cleaned and sanitized. We also encourage such healthy personal habits as regular hand-washing. 

    The following information reflects the most recent planning; information can change if circumstances change.

    Update July 20, 2020

    Academic classes will be held online

    In order to maximize the amount of hands-on, career-technical education available to students, all in-person classes will be in the career lab with the career-technical instructor.  English, mathematics, social studies, and science classes will be held remotely.  Students will spend all day two days per week in their career-technical program.

    As part of this schedule, students will have time to meet individually with academic instructors while on campus, which will support their online learning.  It also means that the same group of students will stay in the same room—their career lab—for the full day, reducing the number of times per day needed to sanitize rooms as we would if students changed classes for multiple periods daily.

    Students will attend the campus on Mondays and Thursdays as part of the A group, or Tuesdays and Fridays as part of the B group.  During the remaining three days, students will work remotely on academic work and other homework, with Wednesday set aside for one-on-one remote assistance.

    This schedule will run for the first quarter, until October 16.

  • School Board gives go-ahead for $66K “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” services

    School Board gives go-ahead for $66K “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” services

    On whether schools will open on the date planned, Dr. Crouse said,

    “It’s sort of a dance there on whether we will be able to do that fully at first or whether we have to roll into that.”

    Loveland, Ohio – With a unanimous vote this afternoon in a Special Meeting the Loveland School Board gave authorization to the administration to sign a proposal from LJB Inc. for “Pandemic Preparedness and Planning” services.

    LJB will provide the services for a “lump sum fee” of $66,250.

    The “terms of the contract” were not available for the Board and after questions from Eileen Washburn about them, Superindent Dr. Amy Crouse said she did not understand the question. After further discussion by Washburn who asked about a cancellation clause and other things in a typical contract, Board President Dr. Kathy Lorenz pointed them to a sentence in the proposal that said, “A formal professional services agreement will be sent for your review and signature upon receipt of this Authorization.”

    Kevin Dougherty said it would be standard to negotiate terms. Crouse said she doesn’t currently have it, “But I can provide that to you.”

    Dr. Crouse said that after the first week of the study, which will be of the Elementary School, there may be a need to have further discussion about whether classes can begin as scheduled.

    The complete study will take four weeks and will begin on Monday, July 27.

    At a previous Special Meeting on Wednesday, July 15, with a unanimous vote, the Loveland Board of Education approved a reopening plan for the Loveland City School District for the 2020-2021 school year. Preschool, kindergarten, and 1st through 12th grades will attend 5 days per week at “full capacity” (no “all-day” kindergarten) with the option of choosing to attend school online.

    The first day of instruction for all students is scheduled to be Wednesday, August 26.

    Michele Pettit asked if after the study of the Elementary building was complete would the opening of instruction go as planned or would there have to be a delay.

    Crouse answered, “It’s sort of a dance there on whether we will be able to do that fully at first or whether we have to roll into that.”

    Crouse also talked about the unknowns of COVID 19 spread in the community.

    Crouse told the Board that it is likely that there will be times throughout the year that they will not be able to provide in-person learning, and the study will provide guidance for that.

    Loveland Magazine will up-date this story when the “Terms” of the contract are known.

    The meeting was live-streamed and you can still view it here: https://youtu.be/KcKJMKUCiMU

  • DeWine announces statewide public mask order starting Thursday evening

    DeWine announces statewide public mask order starting Thursday evening

    Loveland and the Loveland City School District: Warren County now joins Clermont and Hamilton with public mask order

    By David C. DeWitt for the Ohio Capital Journal

    Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has announced a statewide public mask order set to go into effect Thursday evening at 6 p.m.

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    DeWine said Wednesday that he needed to “bring Ohioans along” getting on board with wearing masks over the last few months, after first issuing a statewide mask order on April 27 and reversing it the next day.

    Earlier this month, DeWine began issuing county-by-county public mask orders as he unrolled a four-tiered, color-coded system for projecting coronavirus community spread. By last week, 19 counties were under mask orders representing over 60% of Ohioans.

    During his news conference, DeWine pointed to the evidence in the scientific community for wearing masks and what he called “a little bit of evidence” from the counties currently under mask orders that it’s contributing to a slowdown of the virus.

    “The goal is going to be, for those counties that are orange, for the counties that are yellow, our goal is to keep them there so they don’t move into the red,” he said.

    David C. DeWitt

    David C. DeWitt
    David C. DeWitt is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience covering Ohio politics and policy. He has worked for the National Journal, The New York Observer, The Athens NEWS and Plunderbund.com covering topics such as education, health care, crime and courts, poverty, government, business, labor, energy, environment and social issues. His work has also appeared in Government Executive, the Columbus Dispatch, Girlfriends magazine, Bleacher Report and the Ashtabula Star Beacon, among others.

     

  • Reset and Restart Planning Guide for Ohio’s Schools and Districts

    Reset and Restart Planning Guide for Ohio’s Schools and Districts

    Read the Planning Guide for
    Ohio’s Schools and Districts

    BACKGROUND: In unanimous vote Loveland Board of Education approves reopening plan

     


    Guide Preview Thumbnail

    Since the ordered school-building closure began on March 17, Ohio’s education community stepped up to ensure a student-centered approach to caring, teaching and learning. The entire system turned on a dime to meet the nutritional needs of the whole child through meal deliveries and grab-and-go sites, and through the delivery of remote teaching and learning opportunities that drove education continuity. These efforts were geared toward challenging, preparing and empowering students for future success—and they were unparalleled, especially given the challenges that accompany a pandemic.

    This page is intended to spur local-level, partnership-based discussions and decision-making in areas critical to the start of the 2020-2021 school year by sharing a coordinated and collaborative approach for codesigning and framing various considerations in planning the Reset and Restart of Ohio’s schools.

    Resources