LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: loveland tigers

  • Stephanie Savely on School Levy: What do we agree on?

    Stephanie Savely on School Levy: What do we agree on?

    Stephanie Savely lives in the West Loveland Historic District in Loveland

    by Stephanie Savely

    The levy is driving a wedge in our beautiful town. Can we “push pause” for just a minute? Can we take a deep breath and focus on what we agree on?

    I believe, if asked, most of us would say that:

    • We love our “little” town. 
    • We know the value and importance of providing a good public education. 
    • We know that our school buildings need work and some probably even need to be replaced.

    Most would even agree that there are probably some items, regardless of the actual dollar amount, in the levy that aren’t “mission critical.”

    So, I have one simple question. What harm is there in asking the school board to take the overwhelming amount of feedback they have received and revise the plan?

    This isn’t an all or nothing situation. Our city is more important than that.

    This problem has been years in the making, and a few more months won’t matter.

    Our community, our schools, our neighborhoods, our friendships are worth coming together and tackling this well. Together.

    Don’t forget, we ARE Loveland Strong.

  • [Video Interview] Loveland Girls Volleyball are ECC Champs for 3rd Consecutive Year

    [Video Interview] Loveland Girls Volleyball are ECC Champs for 3rd Consecutive Year

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland High School sports are continuing to collect big wins as regular season play comes to an end and tournament season begins! This year 5 Loveland High School Fall sports teams won an ECC title, which Loveland Magazine thinks is a HUGE deal! In saying that, we decided to head over to Loveland High School to chat with the Loveland High School Girls Volleyball Team, who just ended regular season play with their 3rd ECC title in a row and a 19-4 record! Head coach Brian Baugh along with the entire varsity squad let us in on their secret to success in a Loveland Magazine TV exclusive interview! Click below to watch!

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DGYkaiq7tc]

  • Take Our Poll on School Levy

    Take Our Poll on School Levy

    [socialpoll id=”2575957″]

     

     

  • Loveland Magazine TV will broadcast live from School Board meeting Tuesday

    Loveland Magazine TV will broadcast live from School Board meeting Tuesday

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland Magazine TV will broadcast live the “Hearing of the Public” portion of the Loveland School Board of Education meeting Tuesday.

    The meeting starts at 6 PM in the media center at the Loveland Middle School. Go HERE to view the meeting agenda.

    We will begin broadcasting at 6 PM and “Hearing of the Public” is the 4th agenda item.

    Go to the Loveland Magazine FaceBook page to watch the meeting live.

    If you find this story useful and helpful in your daily life…

  • Linda Holtkamp on school levy: “Loveland Gives!”

    Linda Holtkamp on school levy: “Loveland Gives!”

    by Linda Holtkamp

    We are a generous city, especially where our schools are involved. We have passed levy after levy after levy, by comfortable margins, whenever we were told there was need.

    Now, we are being told there is great need, urgent need, to bring our facilities up to date.

    Linda Holtkamp lives in the Plantation Pointe subdivision in Symmes Township

    And it’s going to require enormous sacrifice. The schools all need to be extensively revamped or demolished, and it will cost each property owner thousands of dollars, additional, every year, for a very long time. 37 years at the minimum. And, well, most of the money will have to be paid forever.  We are going to build big, and we are going to build new. Renovating, for the most part, is not an option.

    Repairing or using what we already have at the primary school level is off the table. We need new land, 110 acres of it, and it will cost $7.7 million dollars. It’s raw land, so, it will need massive amounts of expensive preparation before it can even be built upon. We need three new, state of the art buildings on that land, with brand new everything inside. Just figure about $92,000,000 for the whole project, and we have Preschool through 5th grade settled.

    Middle school is in pretty good shape, having been renovated when the high school was built. But, we could build outside bathrooms and clean up the sports area in the back, add an 8 lane track so the track team does not have to go all the way to the high school to practice, and new bleachers. The school needs a skylight because it’s too dark inside, and upgrades to the entrance. Let’s budget about $25,000,000.

    The high school is our newest complex, but still needs some high ticket items.

    For sports, the need is for turf on baseball, softball, and a multi-purpose field. Grass is not good enough, as occasionally it gets muddy. We absolutely need new concession stands and a new gateway entrance because, well, we just do. We should budget about $10 million for sports.

    The school itself has big, costly needs. The auditorium, while it is absolutely fine, almost brand new, is too small for Show Choir and band concerts. We need new, so let’s plan for the future in a big way. Let’s go with a two-story, 1,000 seat auditorium. Around that, we will build multiple band rooms, art rooms, and a photo studio. $16,000,000. Sixteen Million Dollars. Just for Fine Arts. That should do it. Good acoustics are pricy. 

    Remember that existing, beautiful, approximately 578 seat auditorium with years of usable life left? We will completely demolish that, level out the floor, and use that space for science labs. The Robotics Team members will get space there, along with lots of ultra-expensive equipment to further their projects. 

    The total budget for the high school reno and new building will amount to $53,000,000.

    As you see, almost half of the money is going to the two newest school complexes.

    Grand total, with more thrown in for overruns: $165,000,000. Plus $7.7 million for the land

    You will get great satisfaction sending the schools 43% more school property taxes each year. On top of what you already pay. And, this increase is so large, the schools will never need to ask for money again, right?

    Nope. Look for another levy in 3 years, for more operating expenses.

    That is a promise, as well.

    Join your neighbors and fellow taxpayers who find this plan, and the costs involved, totally unworkable.

    Vote AGAINST the levy on Tuesday, November 5.

    It’s OK to say NO.

  • Anna Bunker on “Buildings in a Tiger Nation”

    Anna Bunker on “Buildings in a Tiger Nation”

    by Anna Bunker

    As a mother of three kids, a school volunteer and a supporter of every teacher in the Loveland School District, I agree the classroom trailers and teachers on carts (not classrooms) are not a long-term solution. I also agree the District has no $0 option.   

    My question is how did we get to this point?

    First, how did the schools get into a position to have additional teachers without classrooms or the need for extra space (i.e. trailers) when all the data shows there has been NO significant student growth in the Loveland School district in 10 years?

    Second, the age of buildings is not a reason to abandon them and start anew. There are plenty of 80+-year-old schools throughout the United States and Cincinnati that are still serving their communities. If the school district had invested money into maintaining and improving these buildings this may not be an issue. For what it is worth, according to the 2018 Loveland City School District Financial Reports, the 2018 maintenance budget was cut by over $1 million between 2017 and 2018.

    I’ve heard comments praising the Board of Education for stretching levy money out past their original request, but there is another viewpoint. We, the Loveland voters, approved a levy giving the school district money to keep the schools operating and maintained, so why didn’t they spend the money? Some may call this fiscally responsible, but if the buildings haven’t been maintained and updated and now need to be replaced, isn’t that being fiscally irresponsible?

    CHALLENGE for the Board of Education

    I urge that the Board of Education and Administration to take a deep dive into the ROOT CAUSE of how the LCSD got the taxpayers into this situation of voting FOR or AGAINST one of largest School Levy requests in the State of Ohio and then, create processes and procedures to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future. 

    Personally, I cannot support giving the school district a gift of three new school buildings, which, if building maintenance process is not corrected, will need to be replaced after the bond is paid off in 37 years.

    In the September 12th information session at the High School, Superintendent Crouse told us that if the new $16 million Fine Arts Center with a 1,000 seat auditorium were added to the campus, the existing auditorium building would then be used for educational space including, adding a space for the Robotics team since they have to currently share space with the wrestling team.   

    Historically, school boosters have been responsible for fundraising and paying for costs/maintenance for their activities. As taxpayers, we are responsible for electing the Board of Education who we trust to provide quality education to ALL our children, not just the athletes, choirs, bands or other extracurricular teams.

    CHALLENGE for Loveland Voters

    This levy will be a hardship for many Loveland residents. I have a challenge to anyone that is FOR the levy and this increase will not be a hardship on your family, please make a healthy donation to the Loveland Music Boosters, Loveland Robotics Team or the Loveland Athletic Boosters. Help these Boosters raise the money they need to improve their programs, but please don’t ask taxpayers to make sacrifices for these extracurricular programs.

    Loveland Music Boosters

    https://sites.google.com/site/lovelandmusicboosters/home

    P.O. Box 453

    Loveland OH 45140

    Loveland Robotics Boosters

    https://www.lovelandroboticsboosters.org/

    P.O. Box 272

    Loveland OH 45140

    Loveland Athletic Boosters

    http://lovelandathleticboosters.com/

    If you find this story useful and helpful in your daily life…

     

  • I think the proposed millage of 16.78 for any levy is ABSURD!

    I think the proposed millage of 16.78 for any levy is ABSURD!

    by Mark Leguillon

    My name is Mark Leguillon and I live on McKinney Road. I’m a longtime resident of the community and a graduate of the Loveland School District. I believe most people in our community think that quality education is important.

    However, I think the proposed millage of 16.78 for any levy is ABSURD!

    If passed, this levy will put thousands of those residents on a fixed income in financial risk. This would also include many others who live paycheck to paycheck.

    Renters should also be concerned, if this levy passes it is almost a certainty that their landlords will pass the cost on to them.

    The average additional tax burden to the folks that made Loveland a great place to live is about 42% – this is in an additional amount to an existing tax burden. An actual example – a homeowner currently pays $2,099 in school tax alone. This proposed levy would add an additional $878. That is $2,977 which does not include county and other local taxes (And Symmes Township is already talking about the need to place 3 levies on the ballot next year. I don’t know if the City of Loveland has any levies planned.

    What other product or service can you name that has increased by 42%?

    I’m happy and proud that Loveland has achieved the “Excellence in Education” award and we should thank all the staff and students for achieving that award.

    I have a few questions that I hope the superintendent or the school board will respond to in writing and release the answers to all media outlets within 7 days. To stay transparent. These questions are?

      1. Is there a secret super-duper excellence award that this levy would insure it can obtain? (in other words, how would this levy drastically improve the education of the student?)
      2. How does spending $10-$12 Million dollars on astroturf of engineered athletic fields improve the education of the student? Is there a direct correlation between these types of fields and much higher grade point averages?
      3. Do I understand that the Board has spent $100,000 of our taxpayer money that is not refundable and has committed to about $7.8 Million Dollars for the rest of the Grailville property without the levy passing?

    (I see this as the extortion part of your plan….)

    I am just waiting for that official to stand up and say “WE WILL LOSE THE $100,000 IF WE DON’T MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PLAN.

      1. DOES THIS REMIND ANYONE OF THE STREETCAR IN CINCINNATI??

    So you really know how I feel!

    I’m angry and I see these actions as careless and Irresponsible.

    Now I’m going to give you one hypothetical:

    If the taxpayers could demand a 42% reduction to the entire school district budget how do you think that would be received by the school district? Especially if it was only for 37 years (that is what you’re asking from the taxpayers in reverse).

    I understand that the last levy passed was a 5.6 levy in 2014.

    If the buildings are in such bad shape and there is an overcrowding problem. I believe these and other problems rest clearly on your leadership or lack of.

    Since the past problems were not addressed – what circumstances would create a want so large as to do financial harm to our neighbors

    In ending I would like to talk about process and reality.

    I understand that we hired consultants. My opinion of consultants is they exist for 2 reasons.

      1. They tell you about existing problems you should already know about,
      2. AND THE BIG ONE

    THEY TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR WHETHER YOU CAN AFFORD IT OR NOT!

    DID THEIR REPORT INCLUDE THE PART ABOUT THIS LEVY BANKRUPTING MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS?

    IT DIDN’T CONCERN THEM THEY ARE CONSULTANTS –

    BUT IT SHOULD CONCERN YOU!

    [Video] Mark Leguillon addresses BOE on school levy

    Mark Leguillon spoke at the beginning of the meeting about the combined operating and bond levy of 16.78-mil that will be before voters on the November 5 ballot.

    If you find this story useful and helpful in your daily life…

     

  • Susan Craig: “Please seek out the truth, get your questions answered, and make an informed decision on November 5th”

    Susan Craig: “Please seek out the truth, get your questions answered, and make an informed decision on November 5th”

    Susan Craig

    It is no secret that November’s ballot has caused quite a bit of controversy throughout the community. The lines have been drawn and those that are left to decide which direction they want to go have some big decisions to make. Depending upon the website that you visit, each person will tell you how they interpret the situation.  Some of these things are facts, some are embellished, some are grounded in emotion. As a voter, you have an important decision to make.  

    Susan Craig lives in the Turnbury Subdivision of Loveland and is a District employee

    To be very clear, I do work in Loveland City Schools. I started in the district in 2002. I began my career, however, in 1997 in Norwood. It was there that I had my first real experience with levies. I remember distinctly reading a forum page where people were free to openly bash teachers, staff and the board. I was so confused by the fact that people were not supporting the work that we were doing with students. It was disheartening and made me feel as though I had made a terrible career choice. I began to do research on how schools were funded. I quickly learned that without public funds, schools cannot operate. I decided to look in another district. I then went on to the Northwest district and taught in a building that was in dire need of repairs. This district also failed a levy and I made the decision to go closer to my home at the time.  Moving two times in my first five years was my decision and it hurt my heart to leave the communities I had been a part of, even if it was brief. We did have some RIF’s (reduction in force) but I was spared in both situations.  

    From the moment I stepped into Loveland City Schools, I was completely amazed at the support from the families that I had the pleasure of working with. From the PTA support to casual unexpected meetings in the grocery store, I felt (and still feel) so fortunate to work in this district. It is our parents who help us mold young minds and make our jobs better. 

    Our staff is made up of dedicated professionals who care for and love our students. The coaches and volunteers who help mold young men and women are such a gift to the students they work with. The support staff who makes sure that they are there to give us a helping hand is such a blessing to all of us. Our bus drivers, who deliver our most precious cargo, are a part of our family. All of these people are those who make up Loveland City Schools. These are my main reasons for loving Loveland City Schools.

    As we approach levy season I ask that you, the voter, pay close attention. There will be voices telling you things that may frighten you. Ask questions from a variety of sources. You will see signs telling you to vote one way or the other. Ask questions from a variety of sources. The fact is, that schools rely on their community. Our neighboring schools are also asking for money. That should be a voter’s first sign that schools are in need. Please keep in mind that their needs are different than ours. Their tax base, building conditions and level of industry contribution isn’t the same. Many people misconstrue information and try to make you believe what they believe. The truth is out there. It is your responsibility as a voter to seek it out. There are many questions that are out there. You can search for these answers even outside of the opposing parties. All schools are held to the same standard. It is important to understand, though, that not all districts are in the same situation that we are with regards to funds.  

    Schools are held to a standard by laws. Their books are audited and if there is any misappropriation they’re held accountable. While paying taxes is not something that anyone is overly excited about, it is certainly

    something that we must do in order to support our community. If you are interested in learning more, attend one of the information sessions planned by our district. If you are in doubt of the need, ask someone in our district. Knowledge is power and loud voices are not necessarily the voices we should listen to. It is the voice of reason and the voice of truth that should help you make your decision. Seek it for yourself, take nothing out of context, and if it doesn’t sit well, ask more questions.

    I will close with this, I am proud of our district administrators and board for their effort in listening to the voices of those who wanted to be a part of the process. I am in awe of the continued effort that they put into a vision that started four years ago. To step in and take a good look at the needs of our district isn’t an easy job. They continue to put our students, staff, and community in every decision they make. Many times at the cost of long hours away from their families. My family is grateful for this. Please seek out the truth, get your questions answered, and make an informed decision on November 5th.

    If you find this story useful and helpful in your daily life…

  • All the fun you missed at Homecoming Weekend [W/Photos & Video]

    All the fun you missed at Homecoming Weekend [W/Photos & Video]

    Molly Hanson and Jeff Scott were crowned Homecoming Queen and King

    Mihaela Manova

    by Mihaela Manova

    Loveland, Ohio – Homecoming weekend has come and gone, and students are resting and reminiscing from the constant adrenaline that the week brought. 

    To start off the festivities on Thursday, September 26, the Loveland Athletic Boosters hosted their annual Homecoming Parade. Homecoming floats graced the streets of Loveland with our very own tiger athletes, robotics team, cheerleaders, and the homecoming court nominees.

    Here is our time-lapse video of the Homecoming Parade

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnJCkqG9nbA]

    Here is our slide show of the Homecoming Parade

    Below is video Principal Peggy Johnson posted to Twitter of the Marching Band and Color Guard as they turned onto #Tiger Way and entered the High School

    Later Thursday night at the high school, students faced off in powder puff football and volleyball, as well as the winner of the cutest dog contest, was announced.

    Image
    Peggy Johnson @LHSTigrInCharge

    On Friday night, as our school faced off against Milford, students packed the stands in anticipation of not only a sudden change in score, but of the festivities around them. The Loveland Show Choir performed in a semi-circle in front of the parents, the national anthem was sung, and fireworks went off, scaring the unsuspecting spectators. The home team took one on its Tiger chin losing 13-42, but that didn’t take away our Tiger spirit.

    Before kickoff, Grand Marshall Tony Ricci and his wife Deb landed on the field to deliver the game ball. (Read about why Tony Ricci was selected Grand Marshall)

     

    Also, before the game, baby powder was distributed among the students and as the game started, clouds of orange and white covered the entire senior section. No person was left unmarked from the powder as many wondered if the nominees for king and queen were caught in the clouds. Not to worry, because at halftime, seniors Jeffrey Scott and Molly Hansen were crowned Loveland’s Homecoming King and Queen.

     

    At halftime the Homecoming Court was introduced and Molly Hanson and Jeff Scott were crowned Homecoming Queen and King

    Later on, Loveland’s marching band performed a cover of New York by Alicia Keys and Jay-Z, while displaying stands of New York imagery. The Colorguard wore matching outfits to the theme, showcasing grey suspenders and yellow taxi cab-like ties to allude to the New York aesthetic.

    Image
    A photo that Principal Peggy Johnson posted to Twitter of fun at the High School Thursday after the Parade

    Starting off Saturday night, girls and boys dressed up in elegant attire can be seen standing in a long line, waiting to enter the homecoming dance. As principal Peggy Johnson tweeted of the arrivals, the anticipation to finally enter the gymnasium escalated, as she captioned a video of the crowd dancing, “Yes this is a sea of dancing tigers!”

     

    By the end of the night, the homecoming king and queen had their special dance while the music and lights continued to electrify the crowd all the way up until the mountain of discarded high heels began to suddenly decrease. 

    In the end, students came out satisfied with their homecoming weekend activities as they had the Sunday to rest before another week of…mandatory school activities. 

    Here is a slide show of more of the Homecoming Game game fun!

    Here is a slide show of some of the game action against Milford

  • The annual school report card released by the Ohio Department of Education

    The annual school report card released by the Ohio Department of Education

    Read Loveland’s Report Card HERE

    Loveland, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Education recently announced the release of the annual school report card to provide communities across the state a picture of the progress by schools in raising achievement and preparing students for the future. In terms of value-added progress – data measuring academic growth and students’ gain in learning over time – Loveland now ranks 22ndout of 608 public school districts in Ohio. Two years ago, the district was ranked 433.

    “This year’s report card shows an upward trend that we are extremely proud of,” said Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse. “We’ve been laser-focused on the areas where we’ve had opportunities to improve. The commitment and hard work by our staff in developing and implementing improvement plans over the past several years have paid off in a big way and our students have benefitted.”

    For the second consecutive year, Ohio districts and schools received an overall letter grade, which is calculated using the result of six components: Achievement, Progress, Gap Closing, Improving At-Risk K-3 Readers, Graduation Rate and Prepared for Success. All Loveland schools, and the district as a whole, received an overall grade of either an “A” or a “B.” The performance index, a calculation that measures student performance specifically on state assessments in math and reading/English, improved from 99.5 to 101.1.

    “The state report card can help show general trends – moving from a D-F range to an A-B range indicates improvement, while the opposite scenario draws attention to areas a school district must work on,” said Dr. Crouse. “Let’s not forget, however, that the report card and the metrics behind it are quite convoluted, evidenced by the accompanying 32-page guide to understanding it. We need to keep in mind that the report card is only one measure of accountability and based mainly on standardized tests – it is just

    one snapshot of the very complex work we do. Our district is committed to continued high achievement and an exceptional educational experience for all our students, and that’s why the development of the Portrait of a Tiger is so important for our work going forward. In that regard, I believe there will always be room for improvement.”

    To supplement the information in the state report card, Loveland Schools recently issued its Quality Profile (QP) for the 2018-19 school year. It includes accountability measures that define high-quality education beyond those captured by the state report card to provide a more complete information of the value the schools provide to the students, staff and the community. According to the District, the QP is supported by the Alliance for High Quality Education, an education consortium that works to improve educational opportunities for students and that represents member districts on matters of educational policy and funding.

    If you find this story useful and helpful in your daily life…