Little Miami News

News & Events

LITTLE MIAMI FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

Despite significant cuts in state funding, Little Miami Local Schools remains committed to fiscal stewardship while fulfilling its central mission of providing an excellent education to the district’s students.

For this reason, the Little Miami Board of Education recently took steps to place an issue on the November 2008 ballot.

“Little Miami has some financial challenges as we look ahead to plan for the district’s future,” said Shaun Bevan, Treasurer.

Although the Board of Education has been proactive in helping alleviate the tax burden on homeowners and in implementing cost saving measures, cuts in state funding mean Little Miami will lose $17.53 million over the next four years compared to projected state funding. During that same time period, district enrollment is expected to grow by about 800 additional students and two new buildings will open.

In 2006, the board discontinued collection of the emergency operating levy – which was passed in 2002 and was to expire in 2007 – one year early. This levy generated approximately $3 million annually for the district. By rolling back the operating levy early, the district is operating at the 20-mill minimum tax rate allowed in Ohio to qualify for State funding and at the lowest rate historically for the district. Under the former governor’s budget, this meant that part of the $3 million formerly collected by the operating levy would come from the state, rather than from the local taxpayers.

“However, the Governor and Legislature’s new state biennial budget that went into effect July 1, 2007 really hurt Little Miami’s financial outlook,” said Mr. Bevan. “Projections estimated the district would receive an increase of more than $3 million in state aid this fiscal year – aid that has now been cut by the state biennial budget.”

Little Miami is functioning at the lowest effective operating millage rate that it has in the last 13 years and at a lower operating millage than any other district in Warren County. The district’s per pupil expenditure is more than $750 less than the statewide average – a savings of approximately $2.83 million to our taxpayers. At the same time, the district has implemented strategies to reduce expenditures.

“Approximately 83 percent of the budget is salaries and benefits,” explained Mr. Bevan. “Both of these areas have been targets of proactive financial planning.” The board worked with teachers to develop an innovative plan that included major restructuring of health care coverage and salaries. The district’s healthcare plan rates were increasing 21 percent. Teachers accepted a new plan to offset this tremendous cost to the operating budget and actually reduced premiums by 39 percent by implementing a health insurance plan with a Health Savings Account. The district’s 10-year savings in healthcare premiums will be $13.9 million.

The teachers also adopted a new salary schedule to provide savings to the district.

Other cost-saving measures include:

Refinancing the bond issue to a lower market interest rate – savings of $1.46 million.

Redesigning transportation – savings of $400,000-$500,000 by reducing mileage and minimizing bus purchases.

Replacing leased copiers with more cost efficient copiers – savings of $146,000 off the lease price, $30,000 in interest, and more than $25,000 a year in operational costs. This means the new fleet paid for itself in the first year.

Eliminating two administrative positions for the 2008-2009 school year – savings of $180,000.

Implementing a new phone system – savings of about $45,000 annually.

Little Miami Schools also formed a citizens’ Business Advisory Council to help ensure high quality, cost-efficient operations.

“These community members are evaluating the district’s operations and helping us improve our efficiency as we strive to be the best stewards of our community’s tax dollars,” said Mr. Bevan.

The Little Miami community has sent a strong message that the district should move away from reliance on property taxes and find ways to alleviate the tax burden on senior citizens.

“Most school levies in Ohio are good for only a short period of time and then must be replaced so that school district expenses can keep up with inflation,” Mr. Bevan explained. “The result is a vicious cycle with districts asking tax payers to support issues every 3-4 years. Little Miami is working to break that cycle.”

The school board is planning to place a 1 percent Earnings Tax on the November ballot. This measure would provide a sustainable source of revenue for the district that is not tied to property value and is equitably applied to all district wage earners. Additionally, it would provide tax relief for the retired, the elderly, those receiving investment earnings, and those on pensions, unemployment, disability, Social Security or other fixed incomes. “The benefits of an earnings tax are tremendous – this provides the district with the best chance to stay off the ballot longer term, it taxes only wages and self-employment income, and it is arguably the fairest form of tax,” Mr. Bevan said.

Due to the amount of time for revenue collection, Little Miami has only one opportunity to pass the earnings tax.

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 5-16: Little Miami High School AP Exams
Tuesday, May 6: Maineville Elementary School PTO, 7 p.m.; Butlerville Elementary School PTO, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7: Little Miami Junior High School Meet the Team Night, 6-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 8: Little Miami Intermediate School PTO, 6:30 p.m.; Little Miami Junior High School PTO, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 9: District XIII 7th Grade Band Contest
Saturday, May 10: District XIII 8th Grade Band Contest; Little Miami High School Prom, Paul Brown Stadium
May 12-16: Little Miami Intermediate School Bookfair Week
Monday, May 12: Maineville Elementary School Music Program, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 13: 3rd Grade COGAT; Little Miami Junior High School Chorus Concert, 7 p.m.; Butlerville Elementary School Field Day; Little Miami High School Outdoor Band Concert, 7 p.m. (May 14 is the rain date)
Wednesday, May 14: Morrow Elementary School Melody Makers Performance, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 15: Little Miami High School Choir Concert, 7 p.m.; Butlerville Elementary School Field Day; Morrow Elementary School Market Day; Little Miami High School PTO, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 16: Butlerville Elementary School Spring Carnival, 5 – 8 p.m. The Carnival will feature games, concessions, cake walk, Panther gear and more! The carnival will also feature a Bid & Buy Auction with many great items donated by individuals and businesses in the community. Come join the fun!
Saturday, May 17: District Fine Arts Festival, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Little Miami High School

CAFÉ PREPAY

Effective May 1, 2008, the Little Miami Local Schools Food Service Department terminated Café Prepay, the online payment feature for making school meal payments. We are implementing new cafeteria software that is incompatible with Café Prepay. Throughout the month of May, you will be unable to make online credit card payments through Café Prepay.

As always, you may still make payments with cash or check. Nothing else will change with your student’s account – student PIN numbers and account balances will remain during the transition in May.

Beginning in August 2008, the district will have established another online payment feature called EZ-Pay. We will communicate instructions for using this website at that time. We apologize for any inconvenience you may incur due to this change. The change in software will allow us several other benefits that we hope you will use in the future. If you have any concerns, please contact Food Services Supervisor Joan Bauman at 899-5130, or by email at jbauman@littlemiamischools.com.

FINE ARTS FESTIVAL COMING

The district will celebrate the visual, vocal and instrumental artists in the schools during the Rhythms and Renderings fine arts festival. The festivities will begin at 11:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at Little Miami High School.

“This festival raises awareness of the tremendous artists in our schools and helps students discover and develop their artistic gifts,” said Superintendent Dan Bennett. “Art is an important channel for self- and community-expression. It is an opportunity to convey thoughts and feelings in a creative and tangible way.”

The festival will feature at least one piece of art from each Little Miami student in grades kindergarten through 12.

In 2001 the art and music departments formed the fine arts committee to bring art, music, dance, woods and industrial technology together. The annual spring event was designed to showcase student achievements in all these areas and have a day where all could display their unique talents.

SUMMER SCHOOL

Little Miami Local Schools is accepting applications for Summer School. The annual summer school program for grades K-12 is an opportunity for students to receive extra help in reading and math, take classes for remediation and get a jump start on earning credits for graduation.

Reading and math intervention for grades K-7 will be held July 28- August 15. Two sessions of physical education classes are open to all 2007-2008 8th-graders and students who need a P.E. credit for graduation. Session 1 will run June 2-17, and session 2 will run June 18-July 3. Academic classes for grades 9-12 will be held June 2-20.

Deadline for physical education registration is May 23. Priority registration for in-district students is May 16. Deadline for intervention registration is July 18.

Physical Education Registration Form

K-7 Reading and Math Registration Form

9-12 Academic Classes Registration Form

LMIS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY

The Little Miami Intermediate School trumpet ensemble stood tall as the notes of America sounded from their instruments – these students knew they were making history. Staff, students and community members recently celebrated the commencement of construction activities at a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new districtwide Intermediate School.

“Little Miami is in the midst of a radical transformation marked by Excellence with Value,” said Superintendent Dan Bennett, who discussed the district’s efforts at achieving excellence while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

The community celebrated the kick off during the ceremony that included brief speeches from the board of education and administration, a construction update and ceremonial turning of the dirt. A similar event was held in August 2007 for the high school addition and new junior high school.

“From the moment that the bond levy was passed, your support of these new schools came with great responsibility from our team; from day one, we have been committed to delivering Excellence with Value,” said Justin Koenes, senior project manager for the Quandel/Dugan & Meyers construction management team.

“The future is bright for Little Miami. These new facilities include capabilities for the latest teaching techniques while incorporating modern technology. These schools have been designed to effectively grow as your community will grow.”

The high school addition is scheduled for completion by August 2008, and the new junior high and the new intermediate schools are both scheduled for completion by August 2009. The overall plan, “Excellence with Value,” will create additional space to house 5,200 students district-wide with the ability to easily increase capacity to 6,000 students; it provides flexibility for the future by using phased planning.

ALUMNI BANQUET

The Little Miami Alumni Association will hold their annual banquet at Belwood Country Club on Saturday, May 24, 2008. The dinner will begin at 7:00 p.m. The price is $35 per person. For more information, please contact Mary Lou Phillips at 513-494-0395.