CEDARVILLE — Cedar Cliff Local Schools will be looking to its voters once again this year to approve a five-year renewal levy in the Nov. 7 Election.
District Superintendent Chad Mason said this week the 3-mill renewal tax levy is for permanent improvements, as the existing five-year levy runs out this year. School officials voted to certify the matter with the Greene County Auditor’s Office during a regular meeting this week.
“The funds from this are used to take care of the facility, its looks, and to purchase a bus,” Mason said. “It does not go towards usual operating expenses, such as salaries.”
In addition to a new bus, which will cost the district just over $94,000, Mason said the high school football stadium needs new lights. These things will be paid for by revenue the levy will generate in its first year.
“The lights we have are literally falling apart,” Mason said. “The problem is they get very hot and stop working, until they cool off. We can have the lights go off in the middle of the game. We can’t replace them because the poles are rotted. The first year’s revenue from the levy will cover these two things: A bus and the lights.”
Mason said the levy will not expire until 2022.
“School districts are usually pretty successful at these,” he said. “Voters understand you have to take care of your facilities, your lights – roofs and computers. Traditionally, (at Cedar Cliff) we’ve been very successful at permanent improvement levies and all levies for that matter … This is a renewal and not an increase. It’s very much needed this year.”
In other news from the district, members school board were recognized last night at an Ohio School Board’s Association reception in Lebanon.
Overall, the board earning a “Gold Rating” by the southwest region of the Ohio School Board’s Association for their work and service to the community of Cedar Cliff Local School District and for their receipt of this for six consecutive years.
“We are very pleased about this,” Mason said. “There is an ‘A to Z’ check list … it determines how well the board uses data to make decisions, how often it reflects on policies, and other things. We submit it.”
Also recognized at the reception was board member Gail Martindale, for 20 years of service, and board member Matt Sheridan, for 10 years of service to board of education.
“Our community benefits from their service and time,” Mason said. “We have a very good board, a very stable board that works hard together and with us. The treasurer and I are very fortunate to work with these individuals. We are very pleased. This is a sort of pat on the back by the OSBA.”
Mason said Marindale also serves on Greene County Career Center Board of Education, as president.
“Sheridan has served as president in his tenure as well,” Mason said. “He has two kids in the district now and one just graduated. He’s been very active – very active at least in the last four years I’ve been here.”
Also during the meeting, the board approved a $360,000 contract with the Greene County Educational Service Center for special education, pupil personnel, a social worker, and other special services for the upcoming school year.
The next regular meeting of the board is at 7 p.m. Monday, April 3. The meeting after that was scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, May 1.
