Strasburg-Franklin Local School District pulls operating levy from May 5 ballot

The Strasburg-Franklin Local School District Board of Education took formal action at its Feb. 17 meeting to remove a 2.9-mill, five-year operating levy from the May 5 ballot. The board previously had passed resolutions to place the levy on the ballot.

“Due to recent changes in laws enacted by the Ohio Legislature, we are removing our proposed operating levy from the May ballot,” Superintendent Vince Lindsey said. “These changes are misleading to the community, primarily because they result in differing amounts in what the district is asking for and what the district will actually collect from the levy.”

Based on an estimate the county auditor provided Jan. 7, the levy would raise $615,757 annually for the district beginning in 2028. First approved in 2017, the levy would not increase property taxes. It would cost a property owner $102 for each $100,000 of market value.

“The amount collected for the district would be far less, in part due to the recent changes enacted by the Ohio Legislature,” Treasurer Trevor Gummere said. “We will actually only collect about $147,000 from the levy beginning in 2028. So we are telling the voters that we are going to collect this amount but actually collecting far less.”

“The Legislature has made it more difficult for communities to support schools,” Lindsey said. “In the end, the board’s decision to remove the levy from the May ballot was done in the best interest of the voters.”

“The board will need to go back on the ballot at some point for operating revenue, but with changes made by the Legislature, May 2026 is not the time,” Gummere said. “In the interim, we will tighten our belts and make some difficult fiscal decisions. The cuts begin now.”

The board also took the following action:

— Heard concerns from several parents about the volleyball program.

— Approved the 2026-27 school calendar: Aug. 19, first day of school; Dec. 21-Jan. 3, winter break; March 22-29, spring break; May 27, last day for students.

— Approved Janel Miller, school nurse, as home athletic trainer at $100 per night, effective Jan. 17.

— Approved Daisy Verbarg as a nonbachelor substitute teacher for the 2025-26 school year.

— Approved a new custodian/bus driver position for the 2025-26 school year.

— Granted one-year supplemental coaching contracts to Matt Lancaster, assistant baseball; Ryan Dugan and Curtis Metzger, volunteer assistant baseball; Brock Lauvray and Rachel Montgomery, assistant softball; Peyton Speicher and Jessica Barkley, assistant high school track; Jimmy Harper, volunteer high school track; Chad West, middle school boys track; Brooke Spinell, middle school girls track.

— Approved Carly Mayle as volunteer assistant softball coach for the 2025-26 school year.

— Approved a farm agreement with Terry and Sherry Garber and the Myers brothers to farm district-owned property.

— Approved the speech and debate team to travel to North Lima/Boardman for an overnight trip March 5-7 to compete in the Ohio Speech and Debate Association.

— Approved continued membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the 2026-27 school year.

— Approved travel for the baseball team to Tennessee March 27-April 2 and the softball team to Myrtle Beach March 29-April 3 for tournaments.

— Accepted a donation from John Sibila Survey for $1,200 for a property survey.

— Passed a resolution with the Stark County Schools Council of Government to advertise for and receive bids for an integrated 65-passenger conventional bus. The district is not obligated to purchase a bus.

In other information, the board recognized February Tigers of the Month: Izzy Young, high school; Ian Paisley, middle school; Alayna Numbers, elementary. Each received a plaque sponsored by the district and the Lions Club.

Madis Harstine won the spelling bee by spelling “ominous.” Deacon Dreher was runner-up.

Speech and debate team members Violet Thomas, Mia Gehring and Shelby Kinsey are state qualifiers. This is the fourth year Thomas has qualified for state. They will be honored at a later board meeting. Matthew Wald is their adviser.

The next meeting is March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at 140 N. Bodmer Ave.