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 – The first week of May, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced budget cuts to balance the State budget.
Loveland City School District Treasurer Kevin Hawley
Due to the economic impact of COVID-19, Governor DeWine said that $775 million in reductions to Ohio’s General Revenue Fund are needed for the remainder of the Fiscal Year 2020 which ends on June 30.
DeWine said that Ohio is mandated to balance its budget each year, and in addition to identifying areas of savings, the following budget reductions will be made for the next two months:
Medicaid – $210 million
K12 Foundation Payment Reduction – $300 million
Other Education Budget Line Items – $55 million
Higher Education – $110 million
All Other Agencies – $100 million
Loveland Magazine reached out to the Loveland City School District Treasurer Kevin Hawley asking him to comment on the impact of the State cutting revenue to the District.
Thank you for reaching out. I can confirm pieces of this information. For your convenience, I have attached the list from The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) outlining the data for all districts in the state of Ohio. (K-12_Education (2)-1) The amount of the state revenue reduction is $1,010,855. The percentage you are referencing is how much the reduction in revenue is to our ODE calculated overall operating expenditures as stated on the form attached. The percentage decrease of our state revenue for this year is just below 8% and is a decrease of 2% from our overall operating revenue.
The current state funding cuts are for this fiscal year (July 2019 – June 2020) and will be deducted in the next couple months on our last three state payments. School districts receive their annual state revenue in 24 payments, twice a month. We have been instructed that these payments will be taken out equally from our second May payment and both of our payments in June to finish out the fiscal year. At this point in time there is not clarification from the state of Ohio as to whether there will be further revenue cuts for next year. The state’s budget is primarily funded through sales and income tax and those numbers are announced monthly around the 10th of every month. I have not seen the April numbers at this point in time but my guess is that this current reduction is due to those numbers being much lower than projected pre-COVID. The May and June reports on sales and income tax revenue will be very revealing for how the state’s budget may be impacted next year and ultimately how that impacts K-12 education.
The Governor has stated that there is federal funding that may benefit local school districts. At the present time, there is approximately $300k in additional money through the state from the CARES Act. Ultimately, this will help with the reductions in state funding but does not close the gap.
We were anticipating news of potential revenue cuts from the state but were unsure of the size or which fiscal year it would impact. We are always evaluating ways to make our district more efficient and find ways to save and we will continue to do that work. Having just received the specific amount of the revenue cuts Wednesday morning (May 6) we were not factoring this decrease into the budget for next year’s planning and the Board of Education has not had the opportunity to discuss any potential cuts due to this. As we work through the overall financial impact and implications of this budget reduction, recently failed levy and other factors due to COVID-19 the Board will discuss if any future budget cuts are necessary.
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!
The current system and laws in regard to funding schools in Ohio are flawed. The funding system overemphasizes real estate taxes and creates inequality in educational funding across the state. The system has been declared unconstitutional multiple times by the Ohio Supreme Court, most recently in 2002.However, due to inaction by the administrative and legislative branches, the funding system remains law. So school systems, like Loveland, that do not have large commercial and industrial bases, must rely heavily on local, individual real estate taxes in order to operate.Voters are faced with the choice of voting for higher taxes or not providing our public schools with the funds necessary to operate effectively. Our schools simply cannot be effective in preparing current and future students without the essential funds to operate.
Dr. Gregg Tracy is a Loveland resident and property owner, a Loveland High School Graduate, a retired professor of leadership, and former school administrator.
Even as assessed property values increase, no new monies are generated for schools. Thus operating funds are fixed while operating costs increase.New levies are regularly and periodically necessary. It is a reality in Ohio.Excellent schools depend on good administration, teaching, and community participation, but schools just cannot perform effectively without periodic tax levies.
Loveland’s consistent excellence will continue to benefit students and the community.
It is easy to say, “I do not want to pay more taxes.” It is equally as easy to come up with justifications for voting “no.” Historically, voting against operating levies has not been a strategy that has facilitated any positive change. It is a weak substitute for dialogue and cooperative participation in a meaningful process aimed at changing and improving schools. Without necessary funds, schools cannot operate effectively, let alone have opportunities to change and improve. With needed funds, Loveland’s consistent excellence will continue to benefit students and the community. Loveland’s board and administration, have established a number of ways to learn, cooperate and participate in the school improvement process.Administration is accessible, public meetings have been held and will continue, printed materials have been sent regularly, and online communications are available.The leadership team has been very clear about the district’s needs and financial status.
They are simply asking for operating funds to continue the quality education that Loveland has been providing over time.
As our school board asks for additional operating funds in March, they are not asking for money for building or adding programs. They are simply asking for operating funds to continue the quality education that Loveland has been providing over time. The board has committed to keeping expense growth to less than 3% through fiscal year 2024. As a concerned citizen, I encourage you to make an informed decision in March based on an understanding of the need based on Ohio’s funding system and the recognition of the importance of your vote for our community. Public schools are one of our community’s vital organizations.As you make your decision in March, I hope you have gone directly to the source and not relied on hearsay and negative campaigns. I hope that you have directly accessed information sources made available by the district’s leadership team. I also hope that you consider our students and the short term and long term effects of your vote.Summarily, I hope you cast a concerned and informed vote on March 17.
Kim and Rick Donaldson live on Paxton Road in Miami Township
by Kim and Rick Donaldson
At its February 18th business meeting, the Loveland City School District Board of Education reviewed the administration’s updated five-year financial forecast, which includes annual operating expenditure cuts averaging $2.5 million and fee increases averaging $0.2 million.* The updated forecast still requires passage of a 6.95 mill operating levy, which will raise annual revenue by $6.3 million, to maintain an adequate cash balance through fiscal year 2024. Indeed, the included budget cuts were made for the express purpose of limiting the levy to only 6.95 mills. So, after cutting $2.5 million from expenditures, why do we need an additional $6.5 million (taxes plus fees) in revenue? Let’s look at the numbers.
This graphic is the Donaldson’s original presentation of the data sourced from the Ohio Department of Education and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics as noted on the chart and in the list of references.
As shown in the included chart, both five-year forecasts start from a very high baseline expenditure level established in 2019 when operating expenditures increased 13% from the previous year.**That increase was the culmination of an accelerated spending trend that started in 2015, bringing the total four-year increase to 26%.By comparison, the cumulative inflation rate was only 7.7% during the same period.***This rapid expenditure increase quickly overtook the 23% annual revenue increase in the years following the 2014 levy.
Since median income tends to be tied, albeit loosely, to inflation, expenditure increases that exceed the inflation rate make our schools increasingly less affordable to taxpayers.
Furthermore, it is important to recognize that the spending cuts and fee increases included in the updated forecast are all relative to the previous forecast, which anticipated increasing expenditures by 4% annually.Since the Federal Reserve Board targets a 2% annual inflation rate, the plan was to increase spending by twice the rate of inflation.The updated forecast anticipates annual increases of 3%, which is still 50% above the target inflation rate.Since median income tends to be tied, albeit loosely, to inflation, expenditure increases that exceed the inflation rate make our schools increasingly less affordable to taxpayers.
As a more affordable alternative, we advocate limiting operating expenditures to 2015 levels on a per student basis, adjusted for inflation.As shown on the chart, this approach would result in spending much lower than the updated five-year forecast and, more importantly, lower than current projected revenue.It would thus obviate the need for any additional operating levy.It is worth noting that this would be consistent with, and a continuation of, expenditure trends from 2006 through 2015.
If a 2015 baseline seems too aggressive, the same approach using a 2018 baseline could be considered.Although it would require an additional levy, the levy vote could be postponed to November 2021 and would only need to be around 1 mill to maintain the same cash balance as in the updated forecast.
These particular cuts, chosen by the administration, raise some serious questions.
So, what would we cut?After all, in the same February 18th presentation we were told that we will have to eliminate teaching and staff positions even if we approve the levy in March.We have also been warned that failure to pass the levy in March will result in additional cuts, including staff, teachers and high school transportation.These particular cuts, chosen by the administration, raise some serious questions.If we could afford current staffing levels in 2018, why can we not afford them in 2021 with nearly 13% higher expenditures in the updated forecast?****Even if we choose to defeat the levy and limit expenditures to inflation-adjusted 2018 levels, why could we not continue to support essentially the same staff and transportation that we did in 2018?Where is the additional money going, and why has the administration chosen to cut staff and transportation?
Before we head to the polls in March, we need to have satisfactory answers to these questions that are quantitative, complete and transparent. We need to know whether the proposed budget and associated cuts are indicative of fiscally responsible management for the benefit of our children, or emotional manipulation designed to get the levy passed.Ultimately, it comes down to a question of trust.
![[VIDEO ARCHIVE] May 28, 2020 Loveland Board of Education Business Meeting](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/sddefault.jpg)
![[Video] LHS’s Class of 2020 Celebrated in a Moving Assembly Through Loveland!](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/maxresdefault-6.jpg)
by Cassie Mattia
