Is West Geauga School Board Trying To Move Levy Vote Outside Public View?
CHESTERLAND - The West Geauga Board of Education has added a last minute resolution to their agenda for the Monday, March 10 meeting, seeking to remove the upcoming Bond Issue from the May 6 election ballot. The Bond issue seeks to drain an additional $128 million from the community, in addition to the district's massive surplus, to construct a new district campus which would place students of all age ranges in the same location.
The district’s move to remove the measure from the May 6 ballot brings many questions as to why, after fighting so hard to get it onto the ballot in the February Budget Commission hearing, they would now seek to remove it and if any discussion was ever had regarding the change off-record in violation of Ohio Sunshine Laws. Some members of the public believe the initiative to remove the bond issue relates to the increased public scrutiny the district is receiving, as more citizens are becoming aware of the May 6 election, making the vote harder to hide from public participation.
The school district has previously stated the new facility construction is necessary due to the age and general issues with the West Geauga high school facility, however some citizens have brought up concerns over how the district has failed to upkeep publicly funded facilities presently, such as the West Geauga Tennis Court, which students and parents agree is not serviceable to its purpose. Other parents have voiced concerns about the proposed construction leading to massive traffic congestion across the small township. Under the proposed plan, the district would be combined into one campus, bulldozing the elementary facilities which are considered solid structurally, but do not fit into the proposed designs of the new campus structure.
The move comes after the county budget commission criticized the district over concerns of the district's general usage of funding, potential manipulation of the public in requesting funds from ‘emergency levies’ and the massive surplus the district is currently sitting on.
“I sit on the board of revisions and I listen to the taxpayers that come in and as Chuck has again outlined, they aren’t complaining about the value, they’re complaining about the tax,” the budget commission said. “A 20 mil floor last time around cost them $4 and a half million. They didn’t get to vote on it but they had to pay the bill because if they don't pay the bill, he's going to foreclose on it. It takes a few years to foreclose but we do foreclose, not a heck of a lot but it's known to happen. If there is one message I can deliver to you it is do not hoard money and you have been for years. From my perspective, there is no more concern than the taxpayers being taken advantage of and that is exactly what has happened here to the tune of $4.5 million dollars. It's got to stop.”
School district representees admitted the levy was 'better phrased' to the public to get the initiatives passed. The funds were requested on an emergency basis to fund general operating costs while the district was sitting on a significant surplus of over $20 million. The budget commission then ordered the district to suspend the emergency levy in March 2024, due to the county disagreeing the district actually needed it, calling into question the district's fiscal management.
With so many questions looming over the May 6 ballot initiative, including how effectively the district is managing its own budget, current facilities and properties and potential construction impact within the small community of Chester, citizens are hoping for answers at the upcoming March 10 meeting.
Despite a proposed agenda item to remove the initiative from the May election, there is no indication the district is abandoning the project. The West Geauga School district will meet to vote on the matter on March 10 at 7:00 p.m. School board meetings are held in the he West Geauga Board of Education Office located at 8615 Cedar Road in Chesterland and are open to the public.
