LM BOARD MOVES FORWARD

After four consecutive defeats at the ballot box, the Little Miami Local School District is quickly headed toward "fiscal emergency" and state takeover.

"The administration and Board of Education believe this community has sent a clear message to the district — find another way," said Kym Dunbar, Little Miami Board of Education President.

After last Tuesday's defeat of an emergency operating levy, district officials quickly began forming a new game plan.

"We held small group meetings, listened to community phone calls and emails and even met with our organized opposition," said Superintendent Dan Bennett. "The district is conceding, and we will be entering 'fiscal emergency' this summer."

At the same time, however, Little Miami will return to the ballot in May with two issues, which are both vital to the district's financial health. The Board of Education voted 5-0 in a special meeting Saturday, February 6 to move forward with a 1% earnings tax and a 6.483-mill emergency operating levy — both for five years. The operating levy will cost $199 annually for every $100,000 of home valuation. The final vote to place these issues on the ballot will occur at the regular meeting of the Little Miami Board of Education on February 16, 2010.

"We listened to our community, who said they support our schools but can't afford to keep us out of fiscal emergency," said Mr. Bennett. "We need to stop the divide and place a solution on the ballot that the community can rally around and support. Although it does not solve our financial distress, it provides relief during these difficult times. Our administration and board will begin the process of redesigning a different way to offer education with existing staff."

Since the defeat of an earning tax in November 2008, the district has heard that constituents now support a 1% earnings tax as a long term solution for school funding. Unfortunately, it would require nearly a 3% earnings tax to overcome the district's deficit. Placement of the smaller 6.483-mill tax levy is an acknowledgement by the board that during these tough economic times a reduced millage request is more appropriate.

Since the district will go into fiscal emergency regardless of the May 4 election, should the issues pass, Little Miami will be working with a state oversight commission to determine which previous cuts will be reinstated and a timeline for implementation. Among the issues that will be assessed are busing, facility use, length of school day, course offerings and extracurricular activities.

"While this approach won't avoid state intervention, it will limit the amount of time we are placed in ‘fiscal emergency' and get Little Miami back on the road to local control more quickly," Mr. Bennett said.

Coupled with the ballot issues will be a fundraising drive. While still in the early stages of development, Little Miami will seek donations from the community to further reduce the dollars that the district will have to borrow going into the 2010-11 school year. Further details on this capital fundraising campaign will be forthcoming.

ELECTION OUTCOME

This is a very critical time for our district, and Tuesday's results are quite devastating for our students, schools and staff. It's hard to feel positive about the future, when the vote was another step in destroying a community and dismantling an excellent school district. It's difficult not to take this loss as an indication that our students, staff and schools are not valued. Thank you to the 4,925 voters who supported our levy.

While state involvement in Little Miami's finances is already a reality, we will begin preparing for our next steps. The administration and board will meet to discuss the options — should we consider another ballot issue this spring or simply wait for the state to place the district in "fiscal emergency" and take over this summer? Since we are under "fiscal caution," the Ohio Department of Education will continue monthly monitoring reports of the district's finances.

Without passage of a levy, the district faces "fiscal emergency" as early as summer 2010. The state's oversight commission, rather than the local district, ultimately would be responsible for developing a recovery plan which would include numerous cuts. Under fiscal emergency, the district can make recommendations, but the state will get to decide how to move forward.

We believe the outcome of this election emphasizes the need for a school funding reform in the state of Ohio. Districts are forced to continually return to their local communities, asking for support of tax issues. The result is division.

TAKE TIME TO THANK YOUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

Little Miami Local Schools has received attention recently for our critical financial situation. But did you know there are many positives we can celebrate? Our district has five very important citizens hard at work striving to improve education and to ensure fiscal responsibility -- your elected school board members.

School board members exemplify local citizen control and decision-making in education. They volunteer hundreds of hours and immeasurable amounts of energy to assure our schools are providing the best education possible. Here are reasons we are showing our appreciation during School Board Recognition Month in January.

Board members are citizens whose decisions affect our children — what they learn, who will teach them and what kinds of facilities house their classrooms.

These elected men and women establish the policies that provide the framework for our schools. They represent you, and they take this responsibility seriously by attending lengthy — sometimes challenging — meetings and conferences where they broaden their knowledge about education; during numerous conversations about the schools; and sessions before the Ohio General Assembly.

These boards enable us to have local control of public schools, meaning that decisions on school programming are made by local, elected representatives who understand the community's unique problems, values, culture and circumstances.

With the advice and counsel of the educational professionals they hire, our board has an impact on virtually every aspect of Little Miami. It's a huge responsibility, and one that shouldn't be taken lightly.

Too often we neglect to recognize the dedication and hard work of these men and women who represent us. Little Miami is asking all local citizens to take a moment to tell a school board member "thanks for caring about our children's education." Our members include Stephanie Black, Michael Cremeans, Kym Dunbar, Bobbie Grice and Mary Beth Hamburg.

We salute the public servants of Little Miami Local Schools who ensure you have a voice about education in our communities and whose dedication and civic responsibility make local control of public schools in our community possible. We applaud them for their vision and voice to help shape a better tomorrow.

Daniel E. Bennett, Superintendent
Little Miami Local Schools

MRS. DUNBAR, MRS. HAMBURG LEAD BOARD

During their organizational meeting January 5, the Little Miami Local School Board of Education elected Kym Dunbar as Board President and Mary Beth Hamburg as Vice President.

"One of my goals as Board President is to use the A-Z of boardmanship from the Ohio School Board Association as a guiding force as to how we operate as a board. There are many things we do well, but there is no room for complacency in the world of education," Mrs. Dunbar explained. "Communication, public perception and transparency are three big areas that can always use work. We expect our students and staff to excel; we should expect nothing less from ourselves as a board."

Mrs. Dunbar is a stay-at-home mother who volunteers on school parent teacher organizations, within the community and in the classroom as a tutor. She and her husband, Jim, live in Morrow and have four children who all attend Little Miami Schools. Mrs. Dunbar was elected to the board in November 2007 and is serving her first term, which expires December 31, 2011.

Mrs. Hamburg works as a technical writer for Amylin Pharmaceuticals. She and her husband, Mark, have lived in the area for more than 20 years. They have three daughters and a son, all of whom have attended Little Miami Schools. Mrs. Hamburg was first elected to the board in November 1999 and is serving her third term.

Additionally, board members Stephanie Black and Bobbie Grice were sworn in by Treasurer Shaun Bevan. Their terms will expire December 31, 2011. They join board members Michael Cremeans, Mrs. Dunbar and Mrs. Hamburg.

TRAFFIC AT HS, JH

As winter approaches, the district would like to review driving procedures at Little Miami High School and Little Miami Junior High School to ensure the safety of our students. Please review this information so that we can all work together to make dropping off and picking up students on this campus as safe as possible.

We appreciate your cooperation as we strive to keep these school sites as safe as possible for our students, staff and community.

LM PLACED IN FISCAL CAUTION

Little Miami Local Schools is now officially under "Fiscal Caution" by the state as of November 14.

Since the levy failure earlier this month, the district has been working with the Ohio Department of Education to assess its financial situation, especially the projected deficit for the end of this school year as well as growing deficits in future years. In accordance with Section 3316.031(C) of the Ohio Revised Code, the Little Miami Local School District Board of Education must submit a fiscal caution proposal by January 14 that addresses the projected deficits for the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years. Highlights of Fiscal Caution:

SPECIAL AUDIT CONFIRMS LM PROVIDES EXCELLENCE WITH VALUE

A special performance audit recently released by the state indicates Little Miami Local Schools is operating very efficiently.

"The results of the audit are bittersweet," said Superintendent Dan Bennett. "They confirm what we already knew — this district is providing excellence with value. At the same time, however, they also indicate there are not many areas left for the district to cut."

According to State Auditor Mary Taylor, "the performance audit contains recommendations which identify the potential for cost savings and efficiency improvements. The performance audit also provides an independent assessment of LMLSD's financial situation and a framework for its financial recovery plan."

The report was performed by the Auditor of State's office at no cost to the district due to its dire financial situation. The report compares Little Miami to similar districts and to state minimums, finding that LM already is approaching state minimums and compares favorably to other districts in finances, human resources, transportation and facilities.

According to the audit, "Overall, LMLSD is a high functioning District operating with solid management practices. Administrators have exhibited prudent fiscal and operational decision-making in managing its projected General Fund deficit. Prior to, and during, this performance audit, the Board of Education and District administrators were proactive in making difficult decisions to deeply reduce overall expenditures and lessen future operating deficits."

Auditors did identify an estimated cost savings of $399,500 by cutting 1 additional custodial position, lowering retirement contributions for exempted staff, reviewing services provided by the Warren County Educational Resource Center, reviewing energy conservation practices, reducing the fleet by two buses and increasing routes times and ridership capacity.

"We will carefully evaluate how to implement the state audit's recommendations," said Treasurer Shaun Bevan. "We are interested in decreasing costs, but reducing expenses by nearly $400,000 won't eliminate a multi-million dollar deficit."

Please click here to review the full report.

LM COULD FACE STATE TAKE OVER

"Excellent" isn't the only rating Little Miami Local Schools expects to receive from the state. By next summer, school officials anticipate the state auditor to declare the district — which is projecting a $6 million deficit next year — in "fiscal emergency."

According to Ohio Revised Code (Section 3316.03), fiscal emergency, which is similar to bankruptcy, is given to districts with an operating deficit exceeding 15 percent of the general fund, and in which voters have not approved a levy that would raise enough money to eliminate the deficit. There are currently 5 Ohio school districts in fiscal emergency.

For more information about fiscal emergency, please click here.*PowerPoint
To see how Little Miami compares to districts in fiscal emergency, please click here.