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Lakewood City School Board outlines 6.9-mill levy, financial shortfall and approves retirements
Summary
At a board meeting at Harrison Elementary, trustees reviewed a 6.9-mill operating-levy statement projecting about $12.33 million annually, discussed a $1.79 billion district valuation and deficit spending, heard a legislative update on a property-tax abolition measure, and approved certified and classified resignations by roll call.
Lakewood City School Board members heard a detailed financial briefing Thursday night and voted to approve several retirements and resignations.
Treasurer Rodie presented the levy statement of facts the board approved placing on the May ballot: a 6.9-mill operating levy calculated to generate about $12,328,420 annually, with the district valuation reported at roughly $1.79 billion and one mill equaling $1,786,728. Rodie also told trustees that Lakewood Schools realized roughly $861,000 in savings across fiscal years 2024–25 through cooperative purchasing and shared services.
The levy statement and accompanying community materials were described as being prepared in line with Ohio Auditor of State guidance; adopting the statement on first reading allows the district to provide factual information to voters while complying with state guidance on levy communications.
In his finance overview, Mr. Callahan said the district is deficit-spending in the current and prior fiscal years and that the initial FY26 forecast projects continued shortfalls. He read several items from the statement of facts, including the annual revenue estimate for the levy and spending and personnel statistics: the district reported 76.4% of operating expenses directed to classrooms (compared with a state average of 67.2%) and noted 82% of expenditures are for personnel salaries and benefits.
On state policy, legislative liaison Mrs. Katzenberger summarized recent activity at the statehouse — including sponsor testimony on HCR30 (IDEA anniversary and funding request), passage movement on HB437 (youth cardiac monitoring), and further hearings on HB314 (limits on voluminous public-records requests). She warned trustees that a proposed constitutional amendment to abolish property tax would, she said, eliminate an estimated $24 billion in locally collected property taxes annually with no alternate school funding plan specified; the discussion was framed as a projection and a reason for constituents to study potential consequences.
During board business, Mrs. D. requested approval on one reading of three certified resignations for the purpose of retirement and two classified personnel actions (one retirement and one resignation). After roll-call votes, trustees recorded affirmative responses and the motions carried.
The meeting included questions from trustees about modular units sold at public auction (three units sold for $100 each) and the status of their removal; administration said the buyer north of Pittsburgh had experienced delays and the district issued a March 9 deadline for removal.
A public commenter, Jeffrey Pigot, urged support for the levy, citing programs sustained by local funding — free full-day kindergarten, elementary STEM offerings, mental-health supports, the MEMS career-technical program and AP classes — and encouraged Lakewood voters to research the ballot issue.
Next steps: the board will consider the levy statement and related resolutions again at upcoming meetings prior to the May vote. The approved personnel actions are effective per the resignations and retirements as recorded on the single-reading motions.
