[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6138940,"mediaKeyId","5581854-6e2be6c144fee7c2ecd8d611e8860423","parentId",5581854,"title","Residents urge approval of proposed district income tax levy during board public comment","audioSeconds",408,"startMs",1554000,"endMs",1962000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5581854-6e2be6c144fee7c2ecd8d611e8860423&start=1554&end=1962","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5581854-6e2be6c144fee7c2ecd8d611e8860423/thumbnail_1554000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6138940/Ohio/Residents-urge-approval-of-proposed-district-income-tax-levy-during-board-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138940-1e761b1b0203befcdb02af223b1da4d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773565064&Signature=eTTql9WGn~n4cbuUc0foJ~Dp1e-hOOsVSVooTsiRZGGpUJGYZdJ1ASe9D7-vVihScdpfpskUF02hIoAExBJRMF7nzQYnQZSy9NT-Rxb1K7u7AE89fjMuM~TGwsUt8j1iebMqvDq-iWHgQtHBKlcTOGjQl~FTI-0DxEiiueSAC6Xu1aY4~N9mNqRjIwxZC3Hh6rnhpLuBUDTtTxhA5iWhaXEMLZp3MFIElNjeh~2CJkFElq0-x9bctDrCkI5h5sWMeT0~TS01XEMCHpyHp4Une8EZjgip7eFOtED0vML7AQ8cZI6V6F-KjQtC33rBZrovUcEmdvmQBTLq4hUT0rdj5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Westerville City Regular School District, OH ","date","2025-08-12T14:29:36Z","article","During public comment at the Aug. 11 Westville City Schools Board of Education meeting two residents asked the community to support the district’s proposed income tax levy.
Peg Duffy told the board voters who oppose the levy risk harming the community and students if the measure fails. \"Failure of the levy harms the district,\" Duffy said, adding opponents may be satisfied by paying no new taxes but that service reductions would affect students. Duffy criticized state lawmakers for not updating property-tax mechanisms or school-funding formulas, and said the district chose the income-tax route in response to the current state funding climate.
Patty Dowd, a Westville graduate and lifelong resident, said the levy affects the stability and programs that allowed her to thrive as a student and warned funding losses have tangible effects in classrooms. Dowd described personal memories of programming — including Chinese New Year celebrations and extracurricular activities — that she said were made possible by stable local funding.
The board did not take any vote on a levy that evening; the comments were made during the public participation portion of the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 11, 2025 Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Two speakers at public comment urged voters to support the district’s proposed income tax levy, arguing that a levy failure would harm student services and the broader community and that state funding structures have shifted tax burdens to local property owners and districts.","taxTitle","Westerville City (Regular School District), School Districts, Ohio","taxId",14537,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6138944,"Westville district reports capital work, staffing and start-of-school plans ahead of Aug. 13 reopening",378,1082000,1460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5581854-6e2be6c144fee7c2ecd8d611e8860423&start=1082&end=1460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5581854-6e2be6c144fee7c2ecd8d611e8860423/thumbnail_1082000.jpg","/articles/6138944/Ohio/Westville-district-reports-capital-work-staffing-and-start-of-school-plans-ahead-of-Aug-13-reopening","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138944-d231dc5b7142b6ec7e18c26e1f8f255a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773565064&Signature=RvMFyRYVfplYZmpqUfhkdretMOxLNIG0Y7DuF~yOThlkxg1m7ZqgSJ8mOegg1DI9QgG~YZf97OcoDKasJXmvYiGd3K8lc6~ZKzMKhRGuyu9Boa~Z51buvsfSSUvRsDrm6nL-t6uaZC8wj4CHtVSZtr2EGXvrAbB8W~NucJTuj3~yt0JfGPLl5kmxl2HpnV84FhQDAaIm~rs4FIQ3yQPxyzVDxeSfH0FSLeaokpZDtDYvJmV1tUqSNttuc8WVd1-OA1YwVk6Jf3dW8C8WU8KNQxXg2rACVk0MkcCEn21xvOFCd2VkBCjNZ90cS4YoG3Hpq7ozXypl8MikCCGxUOS3eA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Aug. 11 meeting the Westville City Schools administration updated the board on summer capital projects, staffing and the district’s phased student return schedule for the new school year.
Operations staff reported $2.5 million in HVAC work at Charrington, Walnut Springs and Genoa Middle School, plus accessible restroom construction at Robert Frost, Mark Twain and Walnut Springs and gym enclosures at Robert Frost and Mark Twain. Bond-funded kitchen renovations were completed at Whittier and Hawthorne and health inspectors have approved meal service, the district said. Custodial teams cleaned and reset more than 2,000,000 square feet of district facilities over the summer, staff said.
On staffing, administrators said convocation and new-staff orientation welcomed 72 newly hired staff members, including licensed and classified employees; the district reported five licensed vacancies remain and long-term substitutes will staff those classrooms at the start of school. Administrators also announced the district hired retired Westerville administrator Juliet Peoples on a limited consulting role to support federal title funds and audit transitions.
Administrators outlined the student return schedule: grades 1–5 on the first regular day (Aug. 13), sixth and ninth graders only on the first day for middle/high school, all middle and high school students on the second day, and a gentle start for preschool and kindergarten across the first three days with full start the following Monday.
Board members thanked operations, custodial, transportation, food service and technology teams for summer work and urged families to use the district’s back-to-school web resources for schedules, bus routes and online forms.","District leaders told the board they completed $2.5 million in HVAC upgrades, accessible restroom projects, gym enclosures and kitchen bond work over the summer, welcomed 72 new staff members and outlined phased student start dates for the new school year.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6138949,"Westville Board approves transportation routes for 2025–26 school year; district to start with 96 routes",2055,1259000,3314000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5581854-6e2be6c144fee7c2ecd8d611e8860423&start=1259&end=3314","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5581854-6e2be6c144fee7c2ecd8d611e8860423/thumbnail_1259000.jpg","/articles/6138949/Ohio/Westville-Board-approves-transportation-routes-for-202526-school-year-district-to-start-with-96-routes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138949-a03e66480aabad1654481ba9bd68fbce/orig.mp4?Expires=1773565064&Signature=HKyJmfd0gJ8jASURFxU59KIdqYfwEQwwkuV8Lt0n11fdb372UWMXkm53otZT4CUgp2A~-I51QS-yDtZCFZq12ZG3EQMFlJy65zoEYJZ60UikicN8HhYWV12SctWLFKSpPVLKD7MFmsRvo6B0~~qRhPkSJsgi3~hbqZY3xcu106i9U4by8lA7Bqza6EtlKDHfAbpGhXmOzOEyRmUH~G07osEpoElTwBl-5aY-vXS9SkEV~VozM7xjqjoBtk~o82LOhKiYxCFk42zwQYsvYgIy1zkUJUEXuHSi7fuoXB725agLjd27ERomQvYB6Oz4LG~2I9sFAyWqKI07PZv05FLxrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Aug. 11 the Westville City Schools Board of Education approved the district’s designated bus routes and stop locations for the 2025–26 school year.
Transportation Director Mister Snyder told the board Ohio administrative code assigns the superintendent or designee responsibility for establishing bus stops and schedules and that the board must approve routes annually. Snyder said the district will begin the year with 96 bus routes serving roughly 7,000 students and 22 My Van routes for students with specialized transportation needs. Last year the district operated 98 routes to the same set of schools and centers; staff said two routes were consolidated after analyzing prior ridership data and identifying low-ridership opportunities to combine routes.
Snyder described the routing process as multiweek and multi-person, involving drivers and office staff who analyze rider data and adjust for efficiency and safety. \"The complete routing process takes about 6 weeks...a multi person team at the office that analyzes and reviews rider data,\" Snyder said. He told the board drivers selected routes and the routes were posted after the office’s routing work concluded.
The board unanimously voted to approve the routes. Board members asked why two routes were removed; staff replied the change came from ridership analysis and efforts to combine underused seats onto other vehicles. Snyder said adjustments can continue during the school year based on driver feedback and rider patterns.
The transportation presentation also summarized service parameters: the district provides transportation for kindergarten through eighth grade students who live more than two miles from school (exceeding state minimums by offering transportation for grades 9–10 and space-available service for 11–12), plus My Van for special accommodations and for students covered by McKinney-Vento and foster placements.
Snyder recommended board approval; the board voted in the affirmative.","The board approved the district’s transportation routes for the 2025–26 school year. Staff said routing reduced two routes from last year after analysis of ridership and consolidation; the district will begin the year with 96 bus routes serving roughly 7,000 riders and 22 specialized My Van routes.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6138955,"Westville board reviews state-required ban on student personal devices during instructional day",2447,379000,2826000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5581854-6e2be6c144fee7c2ecd8d611e8860423&start=379&end=2826","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5581854-6e2be6c144fee7c2ecd8d611e8860423/thumbnail_379000.jpg","/articles/6138955/Ohio/Westville-board-reviews-state-required-ban-on-student-personal-devices-during-instructional-day","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138955-2583d9b2b1b7da9b9e07ddbb90945621/orig.mp4?Expires=1773565064&Signature=LFpExxOh9MSEowlH9d7FbvANzMhltdEAG1~BXodHYtS69JC1q9hnNhkWHq7eKXVYDKotp5XFNiLjDWLe~vsPHvVfvsXySEwSFmRZsyx8hV47yAYrGK60rfFZpsmaqFFWsGcQPjLz1hsdxFRyJCwWfPx6FqeRcu-P5Dym~NsD4k2WNgrAua7ULOqm4rsyjAfeiGs1VXGlAWOcpRMm5zRR8Yx4nkyQX8yx~OZcV18XdWzgZ-rI0u1p0w7gmqOiL-S3p-8sEFKRbxLhHH2TZ2WvsAS04lPj-YoPT5iTKLAaMYG~Fs-ggo2~NI7XR1J8Sj3b4-OHCsIUxs-tSnMo~WKC2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Aug. 11 Westville City Schools Board of Education meeting, district staff presented a first reading and explanation of a new personal communication devices policy required by the state budget bill that will prohibit student access to cell phones and similar devices during the instructional day.
The policy, staff said, will not change long-standing elementary expectations — where devices already must be powered off and stored — but will significantly change secondary practice because the new state law “dictates that students cannot have access at any time during the instructional day,” staff member Monica Asher said. Asher added principals and teachers developed a consistent, district-wide approach before enforcement begins.
The district told the board the policy includes multiple, stated exceptions. Students may use devices if a physician provides a written medical statement requiring device access; if device use is included in a student’s individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan; or if a teacher obtains advance administrative approval for instructional use. For the latter, teachers will submit a short Google form to notify administrators, currently requested at least 48 hours before planned instructional use so principals can ensure consistent application.
On enforcement, staff said middle school responses will emphasize warnings and family communication, while high schools will follow class meetings, advance warnings and, if necessary, administrators removing devices and holding them in the office until the end of the day. \"Ultimately, administrators will work with teachers to remove the devices from the classroom and hang on to them in the office until the end of the day when a student can come pick them up,\" Asher said. Staff emphasized that offices will label and store confiscated devices rather than asking classroom teachers to secure expensive personal property.
Staff also acknowledged operational questions discussed during public board Q&A. On student privacy when a device is confiscated, Asher told the board administrators are “not in the practice of going through student cell phones” but that she would raise the privacy question with Superintendent Reeves. For English learners and other students who sometimes rely on translation apps, staff said such instructional translation is an allowable use when authorized by the teacher and principal.
The presentation noted that the district serves nearly 15,000 students and expects some implementation challenges: \"With a little over 14,000, almost 15,000 students, there are bound to be some issues along the way,\" staff said, and the district will update the board as administrators and teachers work through early problems.
Because the board considered the policy as a first reading and staff characterized it as required by state law, no final board adoption occurred that evening; staff described the expected enforcement approach and described training, communication to families in multiple languages and processes for medical and special-education exemptions.
The board asked staff to clarify several details during future updates, including the privacy protocol for confiscated devices and how the district will record and store devices after repeated infractions. Staff said they would return with additional detail as the policy moves from first reading to adoption.","At its Aug. 11 meeting, the Westville City Schools Board of Education heard a first reading and staff presentation on a state-required restriction that will prohibit student use of personal communication devices during the instructional day, with limited exceptions for medical needs, IEP/504 provisions and approved instructional use.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents urge approval of proposed district income tax levy during board public comment

Westville district reports capital work, staffing and start-of-school plans ahead of Aug. 13 reopening

Westville Board approves transportation routes for 2025–26 school year; district to start with 96 routes

Westville board reviews state-required ban on student personal devices during instructional day