By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
No – the cutting of athletics and extra-curriculars if the BG School District income tax levy fails in May is not a threat. That’s reality.
And no – the district can’t just move money from the new high school project into its operating budget. That’s illegal.
Bowling Green Superintendent Ted Haselman spoke Thursday to the BG Kiwanis Club, hoping to bust some of the myths he has heard circulating about the upcoming income tax issue.
“It’s not a threat,” he said of the cuts announced last week. “We need to balance the budget.”
Haselman said early on that voters need to know what is at risk – before they vote.
“How do you want your school district to look? This is the question that’s going to be answered on May 6,” he said.
As for the tax issue passed in the fall of 2023 to build a new high school, Haselman disputed the notion from some taxpayers that the funding should be shifted over to cover operating costs.
“Those dollars can only be used to build the high school,” he said. When voters passed that tax, they did it knowing it would be used to construct a new building.
“We can’t bait and switch,” he said, adding that would be illegal and unethical.
Haselman also pointed out that the district has not received any operating money increase from voters since November 2010.
The Bowling Green Board of Education voted unanimously last week to cut athletics, extra-curriculars, and 29 positions – if the income tax on the May ballot is not passed by voters.
“The need has not gone away,” since the request for a 0.75% income tax was turned down by voters, losing by 108 votes (7,174 to 7,282) last November.
“Rising costs have put us in this position,” while revenue has remained flat, Haselman said. “It’s not like we’ve added a bunch of programs.”
Gov. Mike DeWine’s budget announced this week only made matters worse. The district will suffer a $275,000 loss over the next two years in that budget proposal.
So the district has two options – cut its budget by $2.6 million or pass a 0.75% income tax lasting five years on the May ballot. If the levy passes, the proposed cuts will be avoided.
Haselman also explained that district officials realize the value of athletics and other extracurricular activities.
“We believe extracurriculars are important,” but if those aren’t cut, the district would have to cut nine teachers, he said.
Following is the list of positions and programs on the chopping block for the next school year (2025-2026), if the levy doesn’t pass, with an estimated savings of $2.6 million:
Staffing/positions eliminations:
- Assistant mechanic
- Athletic director
- Athletic secretary
- Bus drivers (7) (creating additional fuel savings)
- Crossing guards
- Custodians (2)
- District communication director
- Human resources generalist
- Inventory control/courier position
- Nurses (3)
- Performing Arts Center manager
- Student wellness coordinator
Teachers
- District wide music
- Elementary (4)
- High School English
- Middle School business education
- Gifted education
Program eliminations and reductions
- Extra-curricular activities (athletics, the arts – music and drama, clubs, yearbook, National Honor Society, etc.), and all athletic and non-athletic supplemental contracts eliminated
- District Gifted program
- District elementary orchestra program and reduced secondary music course options
- Contracted district mental health therapists and case managers
- No field trips or alternative educational opportunities district wide including fifth grade camp
- All buildings will be shut down at the end of the school day to outside entities to save on utilities and personnel costs (Girl/Boy Scouts, rec athletics, etc.)
Transportation reductions
District transportation will be limited to the following:
- Only transport students in grades PK-8 who reside more than two miles from school (no transportation within a two-mile radius of schools, both public and private/parochial)
- No high school student transportation provided except as required by law (Penta Career Center students: school-to-school only; no home pickup or drop off)
- With the reduced number of bus drivers, the size of each route will be significantly larger resulting in a substantial increase to student travel time on bus to and from school (up to 1.5 hours)
- Due to middle school students being transported with elementary students, the middle school day start and end time will move to 8:20 a.m. to 3:02 p.m.
Below is a list of the reduction percentages by category:
- Elimination of supplemental contracts: 29.3%
- Teaching staff: 22.1%
- Student Health and Wellness 13.7%
- Administrative staff 13.2%
- Reduction in transportation: 12.1%
- Remaining: Support staff, field trips, etc. 9.6%
Haselman also pointed out that as part of an annual review done by the district, some positions were already eliminated during the current school year, with an estimated savings of $421,693.55. Those included:
- Central administration treasurer’s office staff
- Elementary intervention specialist
- High school English teacher
- Para professionals (7)
District staff also worked to secure about $2 million in grants – also helping the budget, he said.
The board took steps in December to make the levy more palatable to some voters. For those who believe that no levy should be for a continuing period of time, the board agreed to limit the levy to five years. The board decided to stick with an income tax request, since district property taxes went up when voters approved the building of a new high school.
For those who wanted the district to use its pipeline tax revenue for operating expenses, rather than for building maintenance costs, the board agreed to shift $1 million of the pipeline money from building maintenance into operating funds.
And for those who have wanted more transparency of district finances, Treasurer Matt Feasel has been making the district’s monthly check register available for public viewing.
