News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area
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Since 2004
![[Video] Dave Shoemaker addresses BOE on school levy](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/maxresdefault-5.jpg)
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Board of Education met on September 24 and Dave Shoemaker 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. (Loveland Board of Education asks for combined 16.78-mill levy)
![[Video] Matt Kapszukiewicz addresses BOE on school levy](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/maxresdefault-4.jpg)
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Board of Education met on September 24 and Matt Kapszukiewicz 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. (Loveland Board of Education asks for combined 16.78-mill levy)
![[Video] Mark Leguillon addresses BOE on school levy](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/maxresdefault-1.jpg)
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Board of Education met on September 24 and 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.
![[Video] Board President Art Jarvis addresses residents at Board meeting](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/maxresdefault.jpg)
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Board of Education met on September 24 and Board President Art Jarvis 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. (Loveland Board of Education asks for combined 16.78-mill levy)
by Robert Giuffre
I have been a proud Loveland resident for twenty-three years. As a retired public-school treasurer, having served four districts including Loveland, I am familiar with Loveland School’s fiscal operations and its needs in placing the November 5th levy on the ballot…While this levy request is certainly about numbers, I encourage you to read this article and consider critical aspects of this levy request. (Loveland Board of Education asks for combined 16.78-mill levy)
As a former school treasurer, I am well versed in school finance. I have been challenged throughout my career trying to explain how the laws governing school funding work and what their impact has been on school districts over the years. This redirection of tax-payer dollars by our legislators has fallen on our lap to explain. We have had little or no input on preserving the level of school funding voted and approved by our community. These legislative decisions cost Ohio school districts millions of dollars each
a year and are almost impossible to explain to stakeholders. All I would ask of you is to consider that your feelings about this levy are not fully directed at the leadership of this district. Please understand your legislators’ responsibility for the confusion surrounding school funding and the redirection of tax dollars.
With that, Loveland City Schools has a long and documented history of strong conservative fiscal management and has kept its commitments to this community. Two examples I would like to bring to your attention are: The District vowed that the last levy in 2014, would last for four years and it has lasted for five and a half. Twenty years ago, when I was still the District Treasurer, this community supported a bond issue to build and to renovate its buildings. Past and current students and community members benefit still from these facilities. Now, it is time to move forward with renovations and construction of new buildings for the next generation.
This levy request is about what is best for our children and our community. Students cannot learn as well in these rapidly changing times in buildings that are older than my fifty-year-old house. As we all know, maintaining, operating and implementing technology costs significantly more in old buildings as opposed to new construction. You may not be aware that students are currently being taught in temporary trailers and hallways. The one-time cost of new construction is certainly more frugal than continuing to expend operating funds year after year on dated facilities. Energy efficiency, our children’s safety and the continuing evolution of technological integration are our new normal. Unfortunately, safety training has become an urgent and critical component of our children’s and our community’s education. You own
these facilities and although the Board of Education and Administration provide leadership, you are ultimately responsible to provide that which our children need to be safe so they can succeed. Our buildings do not have current safety and security infrastructure to protect against real threats facing them.
The quality of our schools has a direct impact on the quality of our community and its economic stability, including the value of our property. Legitimizing a “no” vote without taking into consideration these critical realities is short-sighted.
As we each make up our minds about how to vote on November 5th, I ask that you consider not just the numbers, but also what the school district has consistently delivered for our children and for this community. There is a shift in education. This vote is about all our children, the lives of the children of our community. This responsibility belongs to all of us. The return on investment will come both soon and later. Actually, return on investment has already been provided for us by voters in the past. PASS IT FORWARD, please.
by Tony Mackzum
I am a lifelong West Sider who moved his young family to Paxton Woods last summer. Since I am new to this side of town, I wanted to share some of my thoughts and feelings with you regarding the recent ongoing Loveland School District Levy debate. (Loveland Board of Education asks for combined 16.78-mill levy)
While my family is younger in nature, my football and soccer friends in Loveland call me the Old Dad, which I wear with great pride. A few extra years of doing things well and not so well at times has allowed me a history perspective to see both sides of this debate.
Sincerely,
The New Guy
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland High School Athletic Boosters will be sponsoring their Fifth Annual mattress sale on October 5. This has been a very successful fundraiser for the past three years.
Brand new, name brand mattress sets are up to 50% off retail. Top quality sets with full manufacturer warranties. Much higher quality for the price that a retail store offers. All sizes, price ranges, delivery, and free layaway will be available. Floor models will be on display at Loveland High School.
If you, or anyone you know is in the market for a new mattress check out this fundraiser. Every sale benefits the Loveland Athletic Boosters.
Loveland, Ohio – RP Diamond Printing & Embroidery will be selling Tiger Spirit Wear on the porch of the Loveland Magazine office during Thursday’s Homecoming Parade this Thursday.
Loveland Magazine is located right on the parade route in the heart of the West Loveland Historic District at 514 West Loveland Avenue and is one of the favorite spots to view the parade because of ample parking in the District.
The sale will start at about 4:30 PM. The parade starts at 6:30 PM. The story below contains a map of the Parade Route and all the 411 about the 2019 Loveland Homecoming festivities.
The sale will start at about 4:30 PM. The parade starts at 6:30 PM. The story below contains a map of the Parade Route and all the 411 about the 2019 Loveland Homecoming festivities.
The anticipation has begun for Loveland High School’s Homecoming activities and Loveland Magazine has the 411 on what to expect this year!
by Dr. Amy Crouse
As the superintendent of the Loveland City School District, it is my responsibility to ensure that every child in our district has access to quality education while managing our tax dollars wisely and providing a good value to residents. I take this responsibility seriously.
Dr. Amy Crouse is Superintendent, Loveland City School District
Another responsibility I take very seriously is the dissemination of facts. This is why we have been hosting community chats and forums, such as the event held on September 12; it’s why we are constantly updating our website and addressing frequently asked questions; and it’s why we are so intent on engaging with our community. It is imperative that our residents have the facts in order to make an informed decision at the ballot on November 5. And some of what we’re seeing out there, well, it’s simply not accurate.
What is accurate is that Loveland City Schools have reached a critical juncture: We have overcrowding, with some classes being held in hallways and in trailers, we have three old buildings for which repair costs have reached the threshold where industry standards recommend replacement over renovation, and we have a need to secure additional operating dollars. The needs facing our schools are very real and immediate.
Over these last several years, we have spent time working with the community on a plan that is cost-efficient and meets the school district’s needs. This is the ballot issue facing voters with the Tuesday, November 5 election.
We realize that this ballot issue is no small ask. We also realize, like the community members who helped identify and prioritize the needs, that it is more cost effective to do the work all at once and that the longer we wait, the more expensive it will be to remedy the needs facing our schools.
Large amounts of money would have to be spent on other temporary solutions, like trailers, instead of putting the dollars toward real solutions for the long term.
When considering this ballot issue, it is important to note that there is no zero-cost option with our facilities and the needs do not go away over time if we continue with the status quo. In fact, continuing to do so with our facilities comes at a substantial cost – we would need to divert funds from the classroom to pay for critical repairs, which are still only temporary fixes to problems that don’t go away. We would need to put off important safety and security updates in the buildings and continue to make do with antiquated science and technology laboratories and learning spaces. Large amounts of money would have to be spent on other temporary solutions, like trailers, instead of putting the dollars toward real solutions for the long term.
I encourage you to visit the “Frequently Asked Questions” section on our website.
These are important considerations for our community – it comes down to how we want our schools to operate. So that you can be informed about the facts regarding the district work, planning and needs, I encourage you to visit the “Frequently Asked Questions” section on our website. Among other facts on this page, we have also included the updated cost information that shows the board’s intent to structure the financing so that the overall impact of the tax is phased in for residents over three years. This helps residents and it helps meet the school district’s needs.
In service to our Tigers.
by James Visconti
In the past 4 years our school board has been working on a plan to cover an anticipated increase in the student enrollment and the replacement of older schools with a super campus; that is second to none. This is the dream. Then the nightmare began trying to figure out how to pay for this this campus and justify nonexistent increases in student enrollment.
After countless meetings and input from many different sources a decision was made to place a tax levy totaling 16.78 mils on the November ballot.
James Visconti is a resident of Pheasantwoods in the City of Loveland
Unfortunately, most Loveland residents were unaware of this process and the impact to their taxes until the ballot information came out. What it means to most property owners is an increase of $588 per $100,000 dollars of your homes appraised value, not the assessed value. Yes, the school board did vote and passed a resolution to alter the first two years of the collection but from the third-year forward is the full amount. This is an addition to the 45 mils already on the books for schools and does not preclude the school board from placing additional levies on the ballot in future years.
The initial numbers used by the school board to forecast the increase in enrollment was 20% over the next five years. When in fact it by their own admission it is more likely to be 5% over the next five years. Without this increase, one of the reasons for the new schools is gone. It should be noted that enrollment for the last 15 years has been relatively flat. Since, 2008 has been dropping including the last year despite all of the local development. Enrollment of 4,837 in 2008. Per the Ohio School report card 4,428 in 2019.
The next number of concern is the age of the Loveland Primary School which houses grades 1-4. Built in 1941 the school has had several remodels over the years but will eventually need to be replaced but when and at what cost?
Why does the school district use 3 classrooms at Loveland Early Childhood Center (LECC) for half day preschool classes when none are required by law?
Why does the school district use 3 classrooms at LECC for full-day kindergarten classes when none are required by law?
We have the right to expect our elected officials to act in the best interest of those being asked to foot the bill!
We have the right to ask any and all questions and have them answered without first putting them in writing in an open board meeting!
We have the right to expect our tax dollars to be spent to educate our children not to build a super campus.
We have the right not to be taxed out of our homes!
We have the right to VOTE NO on November 5
I for one am going to exercise that right!