Voters in the Tuslaw Local School District (Stark and Wayne Counties) will see a request to pass a 7.3-mill, 5-year emergency levy on the Primary ballot.
The school district is asking voters to approve the additional five-year emergency levy to generate roughly $1.5 million annually. If passed, the levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $21 per month. Last spring voters turned down the same request by 39 votes. School officials have noted several issues that the money would help address such as new textbooks, new technology and maintaining facilities.
One of the top items described by officials, however; is school safety. Officials note that they have hired a full-time school resource officer through the Stark County Sheriff’s Office to work the district through the end of the school year. However; district leaders admit the added steps to increase safety are currently being funded by an already tight budget.
If approved, plans would include securing the full-time SRO for next school year and updating the locks on the doors. The district is also participating in the Stark County Educational Service Center’s levy that will go before voters on August 7th. The 1.49-mill continuing tax levy would fund added safety measures and mental health resources for participating ESC member districts. If passed in August, the money would be distributed among districts based on enrollment.
Michaela Madison Reporting
