001Good evening everyone. Good evening. Uh my name is Dr. Richard Reynolds. I'm the superintendent here at Garfield Heights City Schools and this is I'm Philip Boco. I am the treasurer CFO here at Garfield Heights City Schools. >> And and thank you so much for joining us this evening. This is a live stream that we are participating in to ensure that we are giving out the appropriate and accurate information regarding issue 48 which is our renewal levy. And with this renewal levy, there are no new taxes on this levy. But we wanted to take the opportunity just to ensure that we are uh getting in front of as many folks as we possibly can to ensure that you have the right information on the day of of voting. And one of the things that we've been
002trying to do is we've been having coffee talks. And the coffee talks have been very very successful where we have not only had the coffee talks at various different locations in the school district or in the area, but we we've also had uh coffee talks on Mondays at our elementary schools and those have been very interesting and we received a lot of questions from them. A lot of great questions which we'll talk about in a little bit. But I want to to also get into the community events that we've been a part of with the mayor as well. We've we've gained a lot of support from our mayor and our city council, obviously our school board. They're a great partnership with us just to ensure that our our kids are receiving exactly what they need.
003Uh we've done ribbon cutings, a recent ribbon cutting with the uh new stadium that we received from the Browns. We we've uh invited the community to be a part of that. Um every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, our community members are available. if they're available, they can come out and walk the track from uh from 8:00 to 10:00 in the morning. And and that is one of our efforts to ensure that we are not just a a place where they send their children, but a resource for for our community as well. And the only way that this can this can actually work is that if we're all on the same page. And then the last event that we had with the mayor, he did an outstanding job with just talking about what our children need. They've
004done some great things in the community with opening up a basketball court recently and even our partnerships with just coming in and using facilities for for other programs through the athletic department there. But we wanted just to make sure that our community knew that we are not just a place that they send folks to. We we are actually a part of this. But we we also wanted to share our progress and we we've done a lot of things and and Phil if you can talk a little bit about the things that we've done facilitywise and and also new stadium and so on so forth in the last couple years. >> It's a lot Dr. Ronald is a bunch. It's a bunch. >> Been a fast three years. Um >> so our facilities when we came
005in obviously Garfield Heights one of the um poorest school districts in the state of Ohio. Dr. Reynolds and I came in in a time where there are a lot of grant funds, federal funds, one-time dollars that we had that um we looked at our school district and said we need to sustain fiscal practices, but also make um investments and strategic plans to ensure that we can do uh have this district long term, you know, 5 10 years down the road. So, a lot of that went into our facilities to make sure we were giving our students every resource we can or we could to make sure they had the education they need. So, um we really started by looking at some of our buildings and our buildings are quite old in this district or a
006little bit of age, right? Um not like us, Dr. Right. [laughter] Um but we looked at this and we said, you know, we have a lot of one-time dollars and let's invest in our building. So, what we did, we invested in um middle school windows. you know, we had a bond levy up in 2023, did not pass. So, we adjusted to that and we understood that this is the best for our students now. >> Yes. Um, just in case those who are out there, they may not know that our middle school, there's no AC in that middle school, >> right? >> And so, we need to do something. Uh, we were not able to pass a bond for a new middle school. So, we needed to do something to ensure that our teachers and our
007students were as comfortable as possible, especially in the in the hot summer months or even the cold winter months. >> Yeah. And that was a direct response to the feedback we got from not only the community but also from teachers uh students, administrators. So, you know, we put windows in, we replaced um an original HVAC chiller at Maple Leaf. We have replaced security doors at the high school. We put in security measures, further security measures, updated technology at all of our secondary buildings. Um X-ray detectors and um those TSA like screening machines. >> You have to go through those Uh the same way >> one of the big ones that we we got wide community feedback was were the yonder pouches. Dr. Reynolds, >> the yonder pouches were outstanding. The response was great. >> Yeah.
008And and we kind of preceded what was coming down from the state when it came to we need to get in front of this and those are large expenditures. We're talking 30 $35,000 to implement that. Yes. And I I think the crown jewel of what we did in this school district was um we took the concerns of our our athletic facility and we sought out a strategic partnership with the Cleveland Browns >> and utilized some of those final esser dollars and implemented and put in a new football field and track. And we utilize that not only for just football and soccer and track, but our PE teachers utilize that and our community utilize that in the morning like you mentioned earlier. But >> those were all projects done over about a 16-month period, quick period
009>> that um were used used um federal dollars, non-general fund, non-t tax dollars. And that's the important thing to understand here is that we were able to stretch our one-time grant funding as as far as we could um to upgrade our facilities and honestly just maintain the status quo with our facilities given the age and all of that. But that's not to say we haven't done a a nice job of investing in our board of education has allowed us to do that. Yes, our our board has been outstanding with the things that we come sometimes we come with some ideas that are a little bit innovative sometimes uh outside of the box thinking, but it is for the betterment of of our community and and for our school district and our our board has led
010the way with allowing us to do some of those things that we it also turned out with new buses that we've been able to to gain as well. But there there's been a lot of things going on in just a handful of months felt like it just kind of went very fast. Um, but even in those times, we we've done a great job with just being >> great stewards of the the things that we've been allowed or or given as well. And with all the things that we've done, with all the things that we've invested in, our district is now a three-star school district. We our our our kids, our teachers, our administrators have done an outstanding job just leading the way and pushing us forward. We always talked about every child every day together.
011And what that means is that we're really working to grow each child and our teachers have done that and that's why it's reflected in the um in the rating for us to be a three-star school district and which is the highest designation that we've had since 2011. Um, so we've we've done an outstanding job in just a short amount of years and the programs that we've done, not only just our academic programs, but our programs to support our students in mental health, um, supporting our students with social emotional learning and and also just making sure that we're there to support our families as well because our partnership with the Cleveland Clinic allows for our parents to and the community members to take part in the mobile uh, medical unit. So, we've done a lot of
012great things. this thing has been pushing forward, but we're at a point right now where those things could be at jeopardy. It could be in jeopardy because, you know, we are are now looking at this levy renewal and the levy renewal is really just focused on maintaining and what I like to say to folks when we are we're meeting just for us to keep the lights on. Yeah. >> Just for us to keep the lights on. So, what we're trying to do is just to get the information out there on what we're doing with the funding, why we're here here at this place, and what we've done so far with some of the cuts that we've been making that some of the what I call the quiet cuts that we've been making. Um, and now
013we're at a point where some of the things will be cutting a little bit deeper. So, go ahead. >> No. So, and it's a great question. I you brought it up there, the quiet cuts, right? So, you know, we're coming here, we're talking about issue 48. Um, no renewal uh of a renewal of taxes, so no increase in taxes. But, uh, you know, you mentioned three star school district, and I'm not an academic guy. I'm a finance guy, but three star school district last year and the quiet cuts, you know, we utilized over the past couple years, but last year we had some significant cuts that were a lot >> louder than usual, but we were able to maintain uh what it seems like one of the best ratings for the district in quite some
014time. So, how can you talk about how we were able to do that, but what it would mean if this levy fails for us? >> We can't really make those applicable cuts without jeopardizing the three star. Correct. So, so some of the cuts that we've been we've had to do, we we've riffed six administrative positions, which is which is hurtful. And then we did not refill about 35 for our teaching positions. >> Uh those are the type of decisions that we have to make that are not our academic decisions. They're decisions that we have to make for financial reasons. Absolutely. So, do we want to do those things? No. But we've had to do those things. But we've been able to still maintain because our teachers have been focused on making sure our kids are
015getting exactly what they need every single day. But that is at jeopardy because the the next cuts will be a lot different. We're looking at closing buildings now. Um we're looking at closing possibly closing Elmwood and possibly closing middle school is still we're looking at and see where kids can fit. So it may be Maple Leaf as well. We're looking at losing maybe about another 20 teacher positions and then about 10 of our uh support positions. So, there are a lot of things and not only just that, the funding that we have for our programs that have really been working, whether we're talking athletics, we're talking band, we're talking about the arts, now we have to look at the funding for those things and make some adjustments. And that is not what you want to
016do when you're trying to push a school district forward. But those are the things that we have to do. Can you talk a little bit about how we ended up where we are right now? >> Yeah, so it's uh I'll do it fast because, you know, don't want to get caught in the weeds with anyone, but uh Garvey Lights is again one of the poorest school districts in the state of Ohio. We're 75% state and federalally federally funded. Um which means only 25% of our funding comes from our our local capacity. What happens when the formula that the state implements when it's not kept up with is that it shifts um local capacity onto a higher burden of the cost. So what happens is our taxpayers get you know squeezed for more money. >> What
017we've been able to do over you know the course of our tenure here is not put new money ballots on and Garfield Heights has not had a new money school operating levy since 2012. uh the average for school districts in Ohio is between five and seven years. >> So the importance of being able to stretch every dollar we can we are fiscally sustainable but the issue is when you know a renewal levy accounts for 12% of your operating cost. If you lose that you have to cut that. You know state of Ohio doesn't really care um how you get to that number but you got to get to that number. And that's kind of what we're here talking about today is because this is not an increase in taxes. Um, this is actually will continue
018to allow us to do the things we've been doing this year, the previous year, and kind of push that momentum forward. But the reason we're here is because the levy is expiring this tax collection year. And I know that everyone in this community uh has taken a large property tax increase based on the valuations that they had. And the school board understands that. And I think we talk about that in in our finance meetings, in our when we do our four-year forecast now, not five years. have you in the morning >> that the school board understands that the burden of the cost of our taxpayers is quite high >> and they really do as much as they can to not put new money levies or new tax levies on the books. >> They want us
019to manage what we have and to manage it and and to be an academically strong school district. And that's kind of where we're at. That's how we got here. So, it's a combination of the perfect storm, right? state's not funding us and you know everyone took a property tax increase but this levy would not increase those taxes. >> Yes. >> So so that's something that when we were on the community just to make sure that we're getting the information out. There's a lot of misinformation out there. >> Um and I think it's just more community members needing to know. They know what their their um tax bill looks like and they want to know why. So, that's why it was important for you to to be able to explain to them exactly how this thing
020is working because all that we're doing, all that we're asking for, all that we're looking for with this uh issue 48 is um just to keep the lights on. Absolutely. We're not looking to new bills. We're not looking to create new facilities because we've been able to do those things with grants. We've been able to do playground over at elementary. Yes. uh outside classroom over there and they are gorgeous. They are they are beautiful. We've been able to to do some things that have been outside of the box because we've been thinking a lot differently about our school district and this is the opportunity now for the uh community to vote on or to vote for or against the levy. Um, so this is where we want is important for us to just get the
021information out there. Uh, so they can make a decision so they can make a decision on what is at stake, what will be lost, um, uh, how that affects them tax wise. And, uh, and I think that we've done a lot with just kind of getting this in front of them. So, some of the questions that have been coming up, um, one, uh, we we sent out information about a, uh, asking questions. There was a question that we did receive, but we're also going to talk about some of the questions that we've been receiving while we've been going out. But one of the questions a parent as a middle school parent as an honors child and what happens after the second quarter because honors uh may be cut. Um that is a question that we
022will will have to work with the principal and also teaching and learning just to ensure that we still have the opportunity to push our students. What we don't want to do is to cut any of our programs, whether we're talking about honors programs or we're talking about the development of CTE programs where we're trying to teach kids uh skills or whether we're talking about um some of our extracurricular activities. We don't want to cut those things. Those are the things that allow us to to to help to create and to guide well-rounded students. Um we need them for them to participate. We found out that the majority of our students who are highf flyers are students who are participating in something whether it's athletics, band, um whether it is um music express, they are involved
023and if we're unable to fund these uh organizations, unable to fund these programs, then we're jeopardizing some of the things that we need to offer every student. >> Absolutely. So, so those are the things, but um regarding uh the honors program, we definitely need to work with the the principal and also with teaching and learning as well. Um but some of the other questions that we had that came up and um uh one of which here's a here's a couple of them. Uh when will these cuts begin? >> Yeah, we can we can go right into it. >> Yeah. So, so what we're looking at now, we're planning right now. Uh unfortunately, we're we're planning for either way. Um, we'll be prepared either way. Uh, whether it is supported or not, we'll be prepared to
024move forward. But the changes will occur at the beginning of the new school year, the 2627 school year. That's when the adjustments will be made. Whether we're closing buildings or whether we're just making small adjustments because that's really what happens when if this levy is supported and it's passed, there'll still be some adjustments we have to make, but those will be some of those again those quiet cuts that we have to make. However, with the larger, if we do not are unable to to be supported in issue 40 with issue 48, there'll be major cuts there that we just talked about. >> And what a lot of folks don't see on the back end is Dr. Dr. Reynolds and I have been working on these exact, you know, if it passes, then this, if it
025fails, then this. and uh to be able to be stewards, good stewards of your funds, you know, even if um issue 48 passes given the data that we show and we work on data every >> day. >> That you know, we might have to make tweaks in the school district to make sure that we can be fiscally sustainable with just what we have. And that's important to note, too. It's not just if the levy fails, we're shutting two buildings down. If that happens, we will be making those cuts. But if it passes, we also will always be looking to change and adapt to what our numbers and data is telling us. >> Yes. Because our goal is to to make sure that we're doing our best for our children. Correct. >> That is the goal
026in either of the situations. We are still going to do our best for our children. So that is our effort. Another question was about ballot language. Combination combinations of levies. You you definitely knew a lot more about that than [laughter] I did. So, the ball language is is um if you're not looking at it every day like I'm looking at it or dealing with millage like I'm dealing with millage every day, then it is quite confusing. And there's two questions that we had and I'll separate them. First one is um the language on our ballot that that talks about the 10 mil limitation. >> Um it says anything levied outside the 10 mil limitation is to be voted on. So, a lot of folks came with questions and rightfully so. Hey, this is 9.63 mills
027outside of 10. Is that additional tax? It's a good question. Yeah, >> it's not. So, the 10 mil limitation is all about inside mills. So, those are uh Ohio Revised Code. The 10 mills that the ballot language uh specifies is what the county breaks up and gives all the political subdivisions. So, for example, we get 4.6 inside mills. The city gets uh a certain percentage, the libraries, the parks, the port authority. >> That's unvoted. So, that's automatically levied no matter what. The 9.6 63 is above the 10 mills that the county levies against all political subdivisions and that's why it says outside the 10 mil limitations. So it's just the amount that we're asking for approval without raising taxes. And then the other question was uh uh question about combination of the levies. So these
028this levy issue issue 48 is one issue. It's one levy, but our school district before you and I were here um combined two issues into one and passed it continuously after that. So instead of having two issues, issue 48, issue 49, for example, we just have one issue 48 now. And that was I think consolidated way back in 2012 when they passed that new money levy >> cuz that was a recent question. >> It was a recent and it's a good question too. I think folks on some of our flyers have said, you know, look, it's you're talking about two different levies here. Are you are you putting this levy on top of it or No, we're we're just we combine the millillage, combine the the dollar amounts into one so it's easier for folks
029to, you know, digest and go. And quite honestly, the school district doesn't want to be at the ballot every year. >> We do not. >> We want to get in, we want to explain what we're doing with it and get out essentially. >> And that combination was done how many years ago? I think it, and don't quote me, but I think it about 2012 when they, you know, combined and put new money on. So, um, again, we're talking 13 years ago, um, when that happened. And it's >> it's just one issue on this ballot and that's where we're, you know, it's a good question >> and I think you provided a lot of clarity at that moment when the question was as well. >> I hope so. It's it's confusing. It's convoluting. Um, the ballot
030language is is is it's quite complex nowadays. you know, they really have changed it. The state legislature has really changed it to where it's it's more difficult and they almost look to confuse voters sometimes is what I see. I mean, >> and and that's why we're here. That's why we've made, you know, and that's why we've made ourselves available for the community to ask those questions, whether it's a phone call or an email or or coming by one of these opportunities. Even when we do a lot of our uh parent engagement events, we're getting those questions which is which is awesome because the more questions that we're being asked, the the more clarity that we're to provide our community and that is our goal and that's the effort of all of this just to provide
031clarity um so so that they can make a a decision. Uh so here was another question. Tell us about the 12.5% um that we're going to lose. >> Yeah. Yeah. So it's a really good question. And it's it's actually a really important opportunity for our community to know this. Um, our levy currently uh only collects so our our community members only pay 87.5% of the full levy amount. So if our levy was $1, residents would pay 87.5, right? The state kicks in the other 12 1.5%. So what does that mean? They the state pays that percentage for you and you don't see that. And what's important about that is that if this issue fails, any new money levy we put on moving forward would be fully taxed at 100%. So our community members would pay
032more >> than uh other if they would, >> you know, choose to not pass issue 48 and we'd have to put a new money levy on to collect the same dollar amount. >> Yeah. So So right now they will be avoiding the 12.5%. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, if they pass it right now, I think the battle language says $337 per $100,000 in valuation. If that same dollar amount we went for in May >> was the $5.35 million, what would happen is that per $100,000 amount would be 12.5% more. >> Y >> because you have to they the state will no longer honor that credit%. >> Yes. So, right now, our community members are getting a discount on their property taxes on this levy, specifically on the issue 48 levy. >> Good, good,
033good. And here's one of the last questions. Um, will we be able to maintain our three star status? >> And this is how I I answered it before. Um, to get to the three stars was a lot of work. Absolutely. There was a lot of work, a lot of dedication from our teachers, even our community members coming in to to assist in certain areas, but it's just the community coming together because we push for every child every day together. That's something that we say all the time. And so, we're actually showing that right now. We're showing and you know, I've seen teachers on on Wednesdays with signs just to make sure everyone has the information. and they're supporting different things that are happening in the school district, but they are making sure uh the community
034is aware. I've seen parents walking down the street passing out flyers. We've seen just the city council coming in and and and speaking words of support. But those are the things that are happening when we're all moving in the same direction. But however, if we're unable to receive the funding that we have been getting for years, if we're unable to see that, it will be extremely difficult to maintain that momentum that we've we've garnered over the last three years. It's been hard work. Ask our teachers. They've been working in the trenches and working hard and it's paying off. And they are they're seeing this thing. And I I want for our community to know that it does put those things that we've been able to do, it puts it in jeopardies. And so that we're
035we're hopeful that we've been able to to put the information out there for the community so that you can have this information to take with you when you do go and vote. Um um but again there no new taxes. >> No new taxes. And uh we are looking forward to continue the work that we've started. >> Yes. >> We're looking forward to continue to move our kids forward. And it it does mean that we are still going to remain focused on every child every day together. >> So thank you all for the opportunity to speak with you and to provide you with this information and uh we are still available for any questions. You can email us or call us here at the office uh at central office and we'll be able to make sure
036that we are responding as quickly as possible. But thank you to this community, thank you to our parents. Definitely thank you to our teachers and to our children and our city officials as well. But most most of all, I want to thank our school board. Yes, >> our school board has done a wonderful wonderful job to get us to where we are right now. and we look forward to continuing this