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Got questions about the levy? You may e-mail your questions to vote@forakronschools.com, or see our FAQ page.
Q. I work in the health care area, and I would like to know if the proceeds from Issue 6 will help to educate the skilled workforce that will be needed in my industry and in other Akron businesses?
A. APS actively works with local health organizations to prepare students for these jobs. Students can get a jump start in a health care career through one of our career education programs, such as Buchtel¹s diagnostic medical technology program, Garfield's therapeutic medical technology program or dental assisting located in the Central-Hower building. Students get on-the-job training and can earn national certification and college credits.
Q. What other types of job skills do students learn in Akron schools?
A.
Administrative Office Technology
Animal Management
Automotive AYES
Automotive Collision
Automotive Technology
Business Finance
Career Prep
Career Based Intervention
Commercial Art
Computer Aided Design
Computer Aided Manufacturing
Construction Technology
Cosmetology
Dental Assisting
Early Childhood Education
E-Commerce
Electrical Trades
Electronic Engineering
Family and Consumer Sciences
Fire Safety/EMT
Graphic Arts
Heat, Ventilation & A/C
Hospitality/Facility Care & Tourism
Information Technology
-- Information Support & Services
-- Interactive Media
-- Network Systems
-- Programming and Software Development
-- Integrated Software
Marketing Education
Masonry
Medical
-- Diagnostic
-- Therapeutic
Plumbing
Pre-Engineering/Bio-Medical
Pre-Engineering/Pre-Architecture
Restaurant Management
Teacher Academy
Transition-to-Work
Welding
Work & Family Life
Q. Why can't the district get more money from the state rather than from local property taxes?
A. For those who ask, the school board president, Rev. Dr. Curtis T. Walker Sr., says that the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that the reliance on property taxes is unconstitutional. But until a new method of funding schools is adopted, districts are stuck with levies. "They're trying to fix that; but, in the meantime, we still need funds,'' Walker said. "The school still has to operate -- to meet the needs for teachers, textbooks and technology.''
Q: Why can't Akron use money from the income tax hike approved for the construction project to help with the district's budget crunch?
A: The income tax approved by voters in 2003 requires that the money be used only to build and renovate Akron schools. These funds cannot be used for daily operating costs, such as textbooks, utilities and teachers.
Q: Why isn't the district closing more schools to save money on operating costs?
A: The district will accelerate the closing of the schools already identified in the construction plan, and more may be necessary. These decisions must be carefully implemented based on the space in receiving schools, transportation and student achievement issues. Without new revenue, the district will be forced to close even more schools than planned.
Q: What cuts have been made since 2001 to help balance the district's budget?
A: Over the past five years, the district has cut $40 million from its budget. More than 575 jobs have been eliminated. The district closed three buildings and eliminated freshman and middle school sports and some foreign language and instrumental music classes.
Q: If the levy passes, would sports, foreign languages and instrumental music be reinstated? Would any other previously made cuts be reversed?
A: The school board will approve a revised budget by next May and will make these decisions based on revenue and expenses.
Q: What additional cuts will be made if the levy fails? When would these cuts be made?
A: The school board will revise its budget in February or March 2007 and cuts will be determined before the end of the 2006-07 school year.
Q: With enrollment dropping, why is more funding needed?
A: Akron Public Schools current enrollment is 26,300, which has declined about 3,000 students since 2001. This enrollment loss is equivalent to reducing every classroom by two students. If a 25-student classroom is reduced to 23, the district must still provide the teacher, turn on the lights and heat the building. These operating costs continue to rise.
Q: The lottery money was supposed to be used to fund Ohio schools. Is it? How much does Akron get from lottery proceeds each year?
A: In Akron, the total annual lottery funds received is enough to operate the district for six days. Lottery revenue is about 4 percent of the state's total education budget. Over the years, lottery sales have been relatively stagnant and lottery revenue for education has declined. Lottery opponents say that for every dollar Ohio receives from the lottery, the state removes a dollar from its existing education budget and spends it elsewhere.
Q: When a student leaves the Akron district to go to a charter school, does any local property tax money go to that charter school? If so, how much? (Charter schools are also called community schools in Ohio.)
A: In the 2006-07 school year, the state is giving Akron $3,293 in basic aid funding for every student, including community school students. For every student enrolled in a community school, the state is taking $5,514 away from Akron Public Schools and giving it to the community school. Either the state funds community schools at a higher rate or the state is taking our local dollars to fund community schools.
Q: When will the district face a deficit without the levy and how much will it be? With the levy, when is the district projected to have a deficit and how much will it be?
A: If Issue 6 fails, the district projects a $1.2 million deficit in the 2007-08 school year, a $40 million deficit in 2008-09 and a $70 million deficit in 2009-10. With the levy and if state and local funding remain as currently projected, a $1.2 million deficit in the 2010-11 school year is possible.
Q: How will the operation of the new schools being built in Akron be paid for? Will another levy be needed to pick up any additional costs?
A: The district is setting aside $1.5 million annually from its building fund (not the general fund) for maintenance of the new schools. This is required by the state and will be used for a preventative maintenance program on major building components. Day-to-day maintenance of all buildings is part of the general fund.
Q: When property values rise, does the district get more money?
A: No. In the 1970s, the Ohio legislature passed House Bill 920, known as the tax reduction factor. As property values go up, voted mills are adjusted downward, resulting in no revenue increase to the school district. The only way a school district can get more money is to ask voters for approval. Many argue that if districts received the inflationary increases in property taxes, new levies would not be needed as often.
Q: How much does Superintendent Sylvester Small make? Why is he drawing such a high salary when the district is in a budget crunch?
A: At an annual salary of $140,000, Akron's superintendent is one of the lowest paid superintendents in urban districts across the nation. Small has not had a raise since he was appointed in 2001.
Q: What are the top salaries for teachers? How do these salaries compare to other Summit County districts?
A: Salary studies from the area show Akron is on par with other Summit County districts. We aren't at the top, and we aren't at the bottom. Akron's salary range starts at $32,405 for a beginning teacher to $72,419 for a teacher with a doctorate and 30 years of experience.
Q: Would the levy help lure industry and create jobs? If so, how?
A: In the next few years, two workers will leave the work force for every one that enters. Jobs of the future will need young people with relevant skills -- workers who are trained to problem-solve, use technology and communicate. Akron schools actively work with local businesses to create partnerships that prepare young people for jobs in Akron. If the district cannot continue to provide future workers, businesses and our young people will leave.
Q: Would the levy money help improve Akron's academic results? Would the failure of the levy hurt results?
A: Issue 6 is critical to keeping the programs we currently have and continuing our academic progress. Since we passed our last operating issue, we rose from a state rating of academic emergency (the equivalent of an F) to continuous improvement (equal to a C). We cannot allow further declines in revenue to threaten our academic progress.
Q: Why can't the district learn to live within its means like people are forced to do?
A: The district has been living within its budget and did not go back to the ballot until it completed every goal in its Contract with the Community. Since 2001, the district made academic progress; appointed a financial oversight committee to monitor expenditures; cut more than $40 million from its operating budget, including 575 jobs; and kept all spending increases under 3 percent annually. The cost of instruction and operating costs, such as utilities and gasoline, continue to rise while revenue remains flat.
Q: How much does the district spend per pupil, between state and local funds? Why is so much needed?
A: In the 2004-05 school year, the district spent $10,769 per student. This is calculated according to state guidelines and includes every cost associated with educating a child, including instruction, special education, utilities, books, technology and transportation.
Q: If the levy goes down, would booster clubs be permitted to pick up the cost of funding sports? If not, why?
A: Sports and extracurricular activities cost about $2.7 million annually. The board believes all students should have equal access to extracurricular programs. Not all schools have booster clubs, and it is unknown if the existing clubs could sustain this level of fundraising.
Q: What was the reason for the large drop in the district's budget between last year and this year?
A: This was an accounting adjustment that changed the number of salary payments from 19 per year to 24. In other words, the district will pay 83 percent of its salary costs this year and defer the balance to the 2007-08 school year.
Q: How many Akron school employees live within the city and would pay the higher property tax?
A: Approximately 2,000 Akron school employees out of about 3,100 live in the city.
Q: When will the next reappraisal be in Summit County and would this affect Akron's levy?
A: The next reappraisal is 2009. Akron schools receive no additional revenue on voted mills if property values rise.
Q: How much in mills and dollars is the owner of a $100,000 home now paying annually to the Akron school district? How much would this go up with the new levy?
A: The community has voted 63 mills to support the Akron schools; but, because of House Bill 920, the district receives revenue from only 31 mills. The owner of a $100,000 home is currently paying about $78 a month. A 7.9- mill levy would cost about $20 more a month.
Q: What was the total school-district property value used to calculate the millage rate needed to raise the necessary funds, and on what date was it calculated?
A: The levy was calculated on the total property value of $2,990,232,783 on June 27, 2006.
Q: How are the district's after-school programs funded? If these programs were eliminated, would the district still need another levy?
A: After-school programs are funded through grants from partners like the city of Akron and the Knight Foundation. This funding can only be used for these programs.
Q: Does Akron still have two superintendents?
A: No. A deputy superintendent position was eliminated more than two years ago.
Q: Why is the district paying several retired employees, including former principals, to work as consultants? How much are they making?
A: When a building principal is sick or out for training, a qualified person, such as a retired administrator, must substitute. It is rare to have more than one or two substitutes at any time of the year. Substitute administrators are paid a daily rate of $186.26. If they remain in the job for 10 to 20 consecutive days, the rate is $248.33. For long-term assignments, the rate is the lowest of the pay range for the absent principal.
Q: Why was the playground equipment at Betty Jane Elementary School destroyed rather than reused or donated someplace else?
A: The newer playground equipment was sent to other Akron schools. Most of the older equipment was set in concrete and could be removed only by cutting the equipment and making it unusable. School districts are prohibited by law from making donations and must auction off items no longer needed.
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