Marysville, OH – With the failure of the emergency levy on the May 2, 2023, ballot, Marysville Schools has announced that they will begin implementing a contingency plan to address budget shortfalls. The 8.4-mill emergency operating levy, intended to maintain current programs and daily operations, did not pass, leaving the district to face significant financial challenges.
Superintendent Diane Allen stated, "It is deeply disappointing that the levy did not pass, but we must now shift our focus to the implementation of our contingency plan to educate our students within our current budget limitations."
The contingency plan, approved by the Board of Education in January, aims to reduce expenditures by $2 million. The plan includes:
Hiring freeze likely affecting class sizes, programs, and course offerings
Elimination of all-day, every-day kindergarten and Bunsold teaming
Elimination of TRI Academy
Reduction of school-funded extracurricular and co-curricular assistant coaches/advisors/directors
Reduction of school-funded extracurricular and co-curricular travel and school-funded field trips
Board President Sue Devine emphasized, "Our priority remains- to provide the best education possible for our students. We realize that the implementation of the contingency plan will, in some cases, eliminate and restrict access to high-impact and high-quality learning opportunities for our students. Our commitment is to continue to explore alternative avenues to fund and restore these services we believe our students deserve in the future.”
While the contingency plan will help address the immediate financial concerns, the need for additional funding remains. The district will continue to evaluate its financial situation as it considers options for the future.
Superintendent Allen concluded, "We are committed to working with the community to find a sustainable solution for our district's financial challenges. Marysville has become a pillar of excellence in education in Central Ohio, and now we will come together as a community to discuss what the future holds for our schools and our students."