Voters approved school levies in four local districts on Tuesday, including Forest Hills Local School District and Loveland City Schools, and rejected school issues in four other districts, including Winton Woods City School District and Northwest Local Schools.
The approvals show a change of heart since November, when voters rejected the majority of school issues on ballots and left nine school districts scrambling for funds.
Forest Hills didn't have a levy on the ballot in November. Growing community division and distrust of the school board in the last two years left board members wary of posing a tax hike to voters. But maintenance issues, a financial deficit and strong encouragement from Superintendent Larry Hook left them with little choice this May.
Now approved, the Forest Hills levy will save the district from having to let go of 15 teachers and fund facilities maintenance and new buses. It passed 53% to 47%, according to unofficial results from the Hamilton County Board of Elections.
Shouting matches over critical race theory, a rumored school consolidation and lack of transparency from the district continue to plague Forest Hills board of education meetings.
But on Tuesday the majority of voters put all of that aside and rallied behind the district’s students, staff and teachers. Voter turnout in the township was more than 31%, with more than 10,000 ballots cast.
“I’m a bit torn though because I’m opposed to the actions of board, but I don’t want to punish the students for the actions of the board,” Richard Bloss, a 67-year-old Anderson Township resident, said as he left the polls on Tuesday. He said the school board leans “too far to the right” for his taste.
Rejected school measures: Winton Woods, Northwest, Edgewood, Ross
Voters rejected a bond issue for Northwest Local Schools and a levy for Winton Woods City School District on Tuesday − again. Both districts had measures fail in the November election.
The Northwest bond issue failed 75% to 25% and the Winton Woods levy failed 77% to 23%, according to unofficial results from the Hamilton County Board of Elections.
Seventeen voters in Butler County also voted on the Northwest levy issue. All of them voted against it, unofficial results show.
School measures for Edgewood City Schools and Ross Local Schools also failed.
The Edgewood City Schools tax levy failed with 57% of voters against it and 43% for it, according to unofficial results. The Ross Local Schools tax levy failed with 59% of voters against it and 41% for it.
Approved measures: Loveland, Franklin, Carlisle, Forest Hills school districts
Voters elsewhere in the region had a change of heart. Voters approved Loveland City Schools' tax levy on Tuesday after rejecting it in November. The approval will likely save the district from falling to a state takeover of its finances.
The district spans three counties and passed in each: 53% to 47% in Hamilton and Warren counties and 59% to 41% in Clermont County, according to unofficial results.
Voters in Warren County approved Franklin City Schools' levy. Nearly 67% voted for the levy and 33% voted against it, according to unofficial results from the county board of elections.
Franklin's November levy failed 55% to 45%.
Both Loveland's and Franklin's levies will fund regular operating expenses at their local schools.
"This is not to do anything additional," Loveland Superintendent Mike Broadwater told The Enquirer earlier this year, in reference to the May levy. "We're just trying to maintain the excellence we have."
A tax levy for Carlisle Schools also passed 54% to 46% in both Warren and Montgomery counties on Tuesday. The funds will help the district avoid an operating deficit.
Not all Forest Hills residents pleased with levy results: 'Enough is enough'
Driving around Anderson Township Tuesday, many pro-levy signs were easy to spot.
At the polls, the levy also brought out many supporters.
Anderson Township resident Chris Segar, 46, has two children in Forest Hills schools, ages 13 and 8. They moved to the community three years ago for the school system.
“I’ve lived in places where there aren’t a lot of education services,” Segar said. “Anytime a great school district like Forest Hills is asking for additional money, I’m for it.”
Lauren Frooman walked up to the Mercer Elementary polling location on Tuesday carrying her 10-month-old daughter Quinn. Quinn waved to other voters going by.
Frooman, 32, voted for the levy. She is a Turpin High School graduate.
“Turpin was a great experience,” Frooman said. “I want to make sure it’s a great experience for her.”
Deborah Christie doesn’t have children in the school system. But the 74-year-old Anderson Township resident is willing to pay more in property taxes to support the schools. She voted for the levy.
“The first thing is education for children,” Christie said. “If it doesn’t pass, I’m afraid the quality will go down.”
Leonard Culver, 71, walked out of a Cherry Grove United Methodist Church after voting against the Forest Hills school levy.
“Enough is enough,” Culver said. “I’m retired. Being taxed too much. People need to cut back. I have to cut back. Everybody needs to cut back. You can’t come to the well the whole time.”
Is there any scenario where he’d vote for a tax increase for the school?
“Not at this time,” Culver said. “Prices are up. Eggs are up. Food’s up. Gas is up. My insurance use to be $900 every six months, now it’s $1,300, $1,400.”
Even with the levy passage, Forest Hills' superintendent said in a late Tuesday press release that the district will still be implementing $750,000 in cost reductions next school year.
"I want to thank the Forest Hills community for their commitment to educating our young people," Hook said in the news release. "Since I stepped foot on the job here, I have been laser-focused on supporting staff and students and finding ways we can be more efficient and effective in our delivery of the highest-quality education possible. The passage of this levy provides a more stable financial situation, allowing the school district to focus on our students."
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