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Our DistrictFacilities PlanOn Monday February 4th the Board of Education approved a portion of the facilities plan recommendations. On Monday, February 18th the Board of Education approved the rest of facilities plan recommendations: Click here for details. The public is encouraged to email their questions, comments and concerns to facilityplan@ccsdistrict.org . Comments will be reviewed and forwarded to the appropriate personnel for a response. ( categories: District News | Our District )
Board of Education MeetingOct 29 2007 - 7:15pm Oct 29 2007 - 9:00pm Board of Education Meeting Cedar Elementary 7:15 p.m. ( categories: Important News | Our District )
Weekly JournalThe Weekly JournalAs a part of the district’s budget reduction plan, the PRINT version of the Weekly Journal will no longer be produced and distributed through the Pony. Beginning with the August 24 Journal, the Weekly Journal will be available online only. You can access the Weekly Journal each week at www.ccsdistrict.org/journal. If you have any difficulty opening the PDF file of the Weekly Journal, try to right click on the link and save a copy to your desktop. Do this by right clicking on the link and selecting “send to,” “save” or “save target as” (the prompt may depend on your computer system). You will need to open the document from your desktop. Beginning September 14 - Vacancies will also be posted each Friday on the CCS Job Hotline at 330-438-2512. If you would like to submit anything for publication in the Weekly Journal, please forward to Stacy Poole, Wells 209, by Wednesday at noon or via email at poole_s@ccsdistrict.org. Looking for a specific Weekly Journal not listed below? Please call Stacy Poole at 330-438-2588 or email poole_s@ccsdistrict.org. Current Weekly Journal ( categories: Our District )
World Class Venues( categories: Our District )
Issue #6 FAQ
Support Our Schools!Election Day is Tuesday, May 8
What is Issue 6? Click here for Issue 6 Brochure
Issue 6 Endorsed by:The Canton Repository – Click here for May 2 Editorial Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce – Click here for more information Hall of Fame Central Labor Council AFL-CIO Frequently Asked QuestionsUpdated 5/2/2007
Q:Do you plan on having pay to participate sports or increased workbook fees?A: While our District must continue to explore ways to generate additional revenues, the pay to participate concept or increased workbook fees would be counter-productive at Canton City Schools. Approximately 75% of our students are “free and reduced”. When charging pay to participate fees and workbook fees, waivers are provided to free and reduced students. Basically only approximately 25% of our students could end up paying the fee. In additional to the free and reduced issue, each student generates approximately $5,500 of state funding for our district. If we charge a participation fee, and that fee causes one student to leave our district, approximately $5,500 revenue would be lost for that one student. Pay to participate fees and increased workbook fees could end up costing our district more money than we would potentially receive.
Q: Why an 8-Mill Levy?
A: regardless of the levy outcome, our district must make substantial reductions. This means that we could have placed a levy on the ballot much greater than 8 mills and hoped for voter approval. However, we understand that times are not only tough for our district, but that times are tough for our community as well. Simply put, in order for all of us to maintain our great public schools we must try to resolve this funding deficit together. Q: What is Issue #6?A: Issue #6 is a continuing operating levy that will be placed before the voters on the May 8th primary election ballot. Issue #6 would generate approximately $6.5 million annually for our District’s general operating expenses.
Q: Why does the school district need more money?A: The District’s expenses go up just like any business or household, but the District doesn’t get raises to offset those cost increases. For example, fuel costs, liability insurance and utilities keep going up.
Q: Canton spends more per student than any other district in Stark County. Why is that?A: You have to compare apples to apples. Canton is one of eight “urban” school districts in Ohio and spends the least per student when compared to peer districts. Canton’s per student costs are higher than other Stark County districts because Canton City Schools serve more special education and special needs students because Canton is the largest district in the county. Canton also receives the lowest percentage of property taxes than any other in Stark County. Q: Doesn’t the District get more property tax money when taxes go up?A: Very little, because less than a fourth of the District’s revenue comes from property taxes. The rest comes from the state and federal governments, which doesn’t go up with property taxes.
Q: Didn’t the voters just pass a levy in 2004?A: The State of Ohio has changed school funding laws that provided extra money to offset losses. We are now realizing those funding losses and need to rely a little more on local tax dollars. Remember, though, that the state provides almost 70% of Canton City Schools’ funding. On top of that, the District loses more than $6 million a year to charter schools because of Ohio law.
Q: What is the District doing to save money?A: We have cut $1 million every two years since 2001. The District is going to make substantial cuts regardless of the outcome of the May 8th levy, but passage of the levy will prevent even further reductions in personnel vital to the learning environment. The District has a proven track record of being fiscally responsible. We have had good audits and the District has always lived within its means. The Canton City School District reduced 239 staff members since 2003.
Q: Can’t the District use layoffs and cut the fat out of the budget?A: Despite the outcome on May 8, the District will be forced to make substantial budget reductions this spring that will include staff layoffs. Further layoffs will have a direct and negative impact on not only our students learning, but also on the City’s local economy. Canton City Schools is one of the area’s largest employers, providing today’s children with the education they need to attract more jobs to Canton. In fact, the school district has been responsible with the funding it gets and has produced increasingly positive results.
Q: What will happen if the levy does not pass?A: The District will be one step closer to state takeover. The fact is that the state Supreme Court has ruled the funding mechanism unconstitutional four times and the state legislature has repeatedly failed to take action. Do you want Columbus making decisions that affect our kids and our city?
Q: When will the tax be collected?A: The property tax will become effective January 1, 2007. Collections from the tax will begin on January 1, 2008.
Q: What will the money from the levy be used for?A: The funds provided by the operating levy will enable the district to continue its progress in improving student achievement. No new programming will be added. Operating levies pay for things like teachers, programs, supplies, bus transportation and other vital resources.
Q: Why should I support the levy?A: We have made progress in recent years. The graduation rate is up nearly 20% in the past four years and the number of kids going to college has nearly doubled in the same period. Also, the District’s position on the State Report Card has reached Continuous Improvement. We need this levy to maintain our current course of academic achievements.( categories: Our District )
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