Schools resume without buses amid budget cuts

NORTH ROYALTON -- In North Royalton this morning, every school administrator was standing outside directing traffic. Another levy failure last November meant that 30 buses would not be rolling up to the high school on this first day of classes after the winter break.  

Standing in the cold wind, Randy Boroff, Superintendent of North Royalton schools said, "There's a lot of pain in the fact that this is caused by a failed levy. That's what distresses us. We're doing what we need to do to work within our budget right now."

At the Jackson Local schools in Stark County, the same scenario was developing as high school students arrived this morning. Mom and the mini van had became the bus. Freshman and sophomore students who were too young to drive began walking to school if their parents or friends couldn't give them a ride.

Part of the fleet of yellow buses were parked a few miles away because the Jackson Local School levy was defeated for the fourth time last November.

After school, Keagan Abott grabbed his backpack and started walking home. "I either walk or find somebody to give me a ride," said Keagan, "but it's hard to do from where I live."

Fellow student Jonathan Douglas was walking home as well. "It does kind of suck because I did really enjoy riding the bus."

With a state of the art new high school building that cost millions, some residents are openly questioning the need to pass a school levy.

Shanna Newman looked across the parking lot at the fancy building and said, "When you look at the monstrosity, and we've seen colleges that are less inclined to build at this level, then why would we try to promote anymore?

"Why would we continue raising taxes and giving more money when the educational core is not the focus. The schools have overspent in a variety of areas and there is a general impression, I believe among residents, that money is being spent in areas other than academics."

Across Northeast Ohio there are many districts trying to cope with failed levies. Richmond Heights, North Ridgeville, and Parma are just a few of the districts that have slashed costs trying to balance declining budgets.

Many school districts like Richmond Heights which lost again last November are trying to figure out how to convince voters to hand over more money to continue a quality education.

Many residents are sympathetic to the need for quality education, but are also clearly frustrated at the never ending tax burden.

Bob Robertson walked out of the Buehler grocery store and said, "People are fed up. It's just more and more money all the time. The school districts never cut anything. They never stop asking for more tax money.

"Let them find another way to fund education and quit dumping on the property owners."

Denise McDaniel and her husband moved to Jackson Township because they wanted to be in a highly rated school district. Now they are having second thoughts.

"That really surprised me when I found out about the levies that they had failed so many times. We were told that the Jackson schools are really good." said McDaniel. "But then you hear that people aren't passing levies to keep their schools at the top. So that worries me."

Everyone seems to agree that until Ohio legislators comply with the Ohio Supreme Court mandate to fix school funding, that the budget battles will continue to fester for every school district.

Looking at all the traffic backing up across the high school parking, Superintendent Boroff shook his head and said, "Our district is not used to this. This is very difficult. So we're trying to make this as easy as possible as we work through this mess."

In Jackson Township, Jeanne Eskola and her friend Marilyn Welsch walked to their car with groceries. Eskola paused and said, "I think that we need to pass the levy for the young people and all. I think that it should pass, but I've got a bad feeling, I really do."

Every school superintendent across Ohio seems to share Eskola's "bad feeling" when it comes to school levies. And as property values and tax revenue continue to fall, the problems will only get worse.