Willard schools voters renew levy

May 07--WILLARD -- A pleased Willard City Schools Superintendent Jeff Ritz had a message for district residents Tuesday night: Thank you.

Voters renewed the district's 5.4 mills levy 668 to 559, or 54.44 percent in favor and 45.56 percent against. Those are the unofficial totals, with all votes counted except election day paper ballots.

The levy brings in $1.2 million a year and funds various services, extra-curricular activities and classes. School district residents, by renewing the levy, won't pay any additional money."I'm just happy for the support the taxpayers have shown," Ritz said. "I just want to tell the taxpayers 'thank you' and appreciate their support."

He said he thought the result would be close, "but I'm very pleased."

During past years, voters declined renewal requests. Ritz said he believes the $350,000 in concessions district staff members took helped sway voters this time.

Ritz said passage of the levy means the district will be able to keep its programs intact.

"This levy is used to fund many different educational options and activities throughout the district," according to information provided by the district. "It is currently being used to fund all aides not required by law (mainly at Central Elementary), our performing arts program, art and language programs, agricultural education, family consumer science, athletics, high school business and smaller class sizes at the elementary level.

"The passage of this levy is crucial to our district to continue to be able to offer all of these programs."

The levy is covered under the rollbacks. All homeowners will receive this rollback on their property tax, Huron County Auditor Roland Tkach has said. Here is a breakdown of the programs and their costs: Arts -- $349,429.50 Athletics -- $239,926 Agricultural Education -- $82,085.72 Family Consumer Science -- $115,477.32 Foreign Language -- $224,249 High School Busing -- $231,385 Smaller class sizes at elementary -- $232,103 Business classes -- $83,016 Aides -- $183,330 English language learners

-- $72,115 Mohican Camp -- $9,150Field Trips -- $13,992 Out of district students -- three students at a cost of $14,350 per month (140,350 per year) two students at a cost of $25,000 per year students in detention -- $60 per day students in DYS (Division of Youth Services)

-- more than $100 per day Special Services: Elementary -- five students at a cost of $100,000 MS/HS -- seven students at a cost of $120,000 Additional savings -- Insurance-teachers have saved the district $250,000 Administration -- same concessions

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