Frequently Asked Questions
- Why doesn’t the district ask for an income tax? How does it compare to a property tax?
- What about a sales tax?
- Why do I see half empty school buses on the road?
- Are we letting the state and federal legislators know about the financial situation in our district?
- If band parents already pay $800 for their child to compete, why is this being cut?
- Why doesn’t the district institute a pay-to-play system for sports and extra-curricular activities?
- What is the actual cost of renting a facility/keeping buildings open at night for community use?
- How many reductions have been made to administrative positions?
- Why don’t staff members take pay cuts?
- Why can other districts manage without cuts?
- Why can’t we cut English as a Second Language (ESL) programs?
- Why doesn’t the district cut lunch programs?
- What is the cost of educating a student?
- How do we get our community to understand?
- Why am I seeing parking lots being paved when the district needs operating money?
Why doesn’t the district ask for an income tax? How does it compare to a property tax?
There are two types of school district income taxes: traditional and earned income only. School district income taxes are imposed on every individual residing within a school district. School District incomes taxes are most successful in rural areas where there are not multiple wage earners in a household and in areas that have more agricultural land. In urban and suburban areas, multiple wage earners per household increases the cost per household and property taxes often become more desirable. In addition, an income tax takes longer to be fully collected by the district and is not as stable an income source. It can fluctuate based on the economy.What about a sales tax?
Sales tax is not an option for individual school districts.Why do I see half empty school buses on the road?
The South-Western City School District Transportation Department routing system is ranked as the most efficient of the largest school districts in the state. Our routing system is a three-tiered system in that each school bus transports elementary school students, intermediate and middle school students, and high school students each morning and afternoon. Some of our buses double-trip in the same tier. This makes our routing procedures even more efficient. You are bound to see an empty school bus before it has picked up children and after it has dropped them off on its way back to the transportation compound. You may also see a school bus just as it has picked up half of its children or dropped off half of its children. The other factor determining cost is the amount of time a bus is on the road. Additional distances to travel often outweigh the cost of the increased mileage.Are we letting the state and federal legislators know about the financial situation in our district?
Absolutely! Our board president is in contact with legislators multiple times per month to inform them of the challenges facing our schools, including the Governor. Our school board has been extremely active in the Equity and Adequacy Coalition seeking to reform school funding. The district administration frequently meets with legislators to keep the needs of our district in the forefront. Our PTA members have written letters to legislators and invited them to meetings to explain the specifics of the issues facing the South-Western City Schools.If band parents already pay $800 for their child to compete, why is this being cut?
High school music and band programs still cost the district more than $280,000 in extra-curricular costs. The costs parents pay is for consumable items, competitions and the upkeep of uniforms.Why doesn’t the district institute a pay-to-play system for sports and extra-curricular activities?
ALL children deserve equal opportunity to the programs offered by the district. The board was elected to advocate for all 21,000 students and their futures. We cannot protect just some students. We’re here to protect and provide for all students equally. During the 2007-08 school year, high school sports alone cost the district $1.5 million not including middle school sports and other extra-curricular activities. The total cost for these programs is $2.5 million after gate receipts, donations, and all fundraising activities. The cost per activity in a pay to participate system varies based on the number of participants. Based on 3,500 participants, the cost per activity would average about $720 per activity. If the number of participants decreased the fee would need to increase.What is the actual cost of renting a facility/keeping buildings open at night for community use?
By closing the facilities outside of school hours we will be able to reduce utility costs to the district by about $350,000. The actual cost to use the facility would also need to include the hourly rate of the staff required to support the usage. This cost varies based on the number of people and the number and size of the spaces used.How many reductions have been made to administrative positions?
Over the last three years, 16% of the administrative positions have been cut. Our spending on administration is significantly below state average. We could add an additional 30 administrators and still be below state average spending for administration. We have intentionally kept our administration lean, though district enrollment has increased more than 3,000 students in the last ten years.Why don’t staff members take pay cuts?
All of our staff members have agreed to extend their current contracts for the 2009-2010 school year with no base salary increase and will be returning to the negotiations table in 2010. Our teachers are already in the bottom third in compensation in Franklin County.Why can other districts manage without cuts?
They can’t. The average number of years a school district is on the ballot for additional funding is about 3 years. School districts across our state are making cuts and have been making cuts to educational programs for many years as the school funding system in Ohio is seriously flawed. The current funding formula does not allow for inflationary increases.Why can’t we cut English as a Second Language (ESL) programs?
Public schools are required to educate ALL children. Schools are required to provide these services by law.Why doesn’t the district cut lunch programs?
The district lunch program is subsidized by the federal government. With the subsidies and reimbursements the district receives, the food service program is self-sufficient. General fund dollars are not used to support our food service program.What is the cost of educating a student?
Per pupil expenditures vary from school district to school district throughout the state. The South-Western City Schools rank 14th out of the 16 school districts in Franklin County in per pupil expenditures. Only two districts spend less than us. The district also spends $600 less than the state average to educate students.How do we get our community to understand?
We keep trying. The adage, “It takes a village to raise a child,” has never been more true. Our community members need to feel part of the future of our children. We need your help to get the word out that our schools provide a good education and are fiscally responsible. Strong schools contribute to the economic stability of a community. We need to protect our investment and keep our schools strong and growing. We can’t afford not to.Why am I seeing parking lots being paved when the district needs operating money?
The renovations you currently see being made in the South-Wester City Schools are paid for with permanent improvement funds. These funds are designated to repair, equip, furnish, or renovate buildings and grounds, and purchase equipment, school buses, vehicles, technology and textbooks. By law these funds cannot be used for operations purposes or programs.