COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Marysville school district levy has failed for the second year in a row. Superintendent Diane Allen said they will "move forward together" and they are already looking at changes they will have to make.
“We have not had new operating dollars since 2008. So, it's been over 16 years since the district has passed new operating dollars,” said Allen.
The district had proposed a 5.5 mill emergency levy. Allen and the district’s treasurer, Todd Johnson, said it would have generated around $6.4 million annually and allowed the district to sustain its operations in the next five years.
Allen said the first two things the district will change will happen almost immediately.
First, school resource officers will no longer be at schools starting Nov. 27. Allen said right now, the city pays for half, and the district pays for half but now they will not be able to afford school resource officers.
The district will also increase the pay-to-participate fee to $770 per activity with no cap. It used to be $200.
Then, in the 2025-2026 school year, Allen said 30 staff positions will be cut for art, music and other elective courses.
“The Board of Education will definitely have a tough decision about you know when do we go on? (The ballot again). What does the next ask look like? When is the right time to ask? So, those decisions have not been made yet,” said Allen.