Latest news with #ParmaCitySchools
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio GOP property tax bill would provide $3.5 billion in relief, but at the expense of schools
File photo of homes in Ohio by WEWS. Ohio Republican lawmakers are proposing massive property tax reform, saying their plan could provide billions in direct relief to homeowners. Local governments and schools say it would come at their expense. We've been talking to homeowners like Debra Weygandt for years. She told us how her property values increased by more than 30% in the most recent reappraisals. 'It's the first time I've ever seen this big jump like this,' Debra Weygandt in Akron's Highland Square told News 5 in 2024. Homeowners in different areas across the state are seeing similar hikes. Like Ed Livernois, who was shocked when we spoke to him about his increase last summer. 'I just got a heart attack,' Livernois said. But state lawmakers say they have a solution. '$3.5 billion dollars of direct property tax relief to every property owner across the state of Ohio,' said state Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson). Thomas, with the support of state Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) introduced H.B. 335, a massive property tax relief bill. Among many provisions, the bill limits how much money school districts can get from rising home values — without going to the ballot. 'Eliminating inside millage means that when we see valuation increases, our property owners will not see their tax bills going up near what they've seen over the last five years,' Thomas said. Parma City Schools Superintendent Charles Smialek said that the bill would take away $1.5 billion from schools — with no replacement funding mechanism. 'How they anticipate we're going to continue to provide any type of services with $1.5 billion less than we collect right now is just unfathomable to me,' Smialek said. Lawmakers say that schools can go back to the voters for help. But Parma has already been struggling. It has had seven failed levies since 2018. 'We've been able to continue to provide a great education for students despite the fact that we haven't had new money since 2011, but we've reached a point where we can't continue to do that,' Smialek said. 'We will have to make very difficult decisions, and it's bad for kids.' Schools are also facing other funding challenges. State lawmakers have passed legislation slashing their expected budget by hundreds of millions. Schools will need to cut staff, classes and extracurricular activities, the superintendent said. Roemer said that there are other ways schools can save money. 'We want to use this bill as one facet of having those conversations, which could be hard conversations, about shared services, consolidation, mergers, so that costs can be reduced,' Roemer said. H.B. 335 is just the latest in property reform legislation. The General Assembly has been considering 19 bills. Because H.B. 335 is brand new, homeowners like Weygandt haven't gotten a chance to weigh in on it at the statehouse. But last year, she talked about her struggles. 'Just with everything going up all the last years, it's really hitting the pocketbook,' she said. A group of homeowners is taking tax relief into their own hands — fighting to get a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would abolish property taxes. This was put forward, in part, to get lawmakers to do something, organizers say. With reporting from News 5's Michelle Jarboe. Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Local school district closes due to heat
PARMA, Ohio (WJW) – The Parma City Schools announced Tuesday evening that the district would close on Wednesday 'due to extreme temperatures forecasted.' According to Meteorologist Scott Sabol, Wednesday will be the warmest and most humid day this week. Temperatures will be in the mid-80s with winds gusting to 20-25 mph in the afternoon. Where kids can get free lunches this summer in Northeast Ohio In addition, a plume of wildfire smoke has moved into the region and will stick around throughout the day. The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Advisory for several northeast Ohio counties, including Cuyahoga, stating that air quality levels will be unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly and those with breathing difficulties. Air Quality Advisory: Full details on the active weather alert According to Parma City Schools, all functions scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, are cancelled. The district's last day for students is listed as Thursday, June 12, according to the district calendar. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio bill would restrict election, levy information from being sent out during early voting
A yard sign for a local levy. (Photo by WEWS.) An Ohio bill would restrict government entities from discussing election information during the 30 days before the election. This would prohibit school districts from acknowledging their levies while early voting occurs. Public school districts in Ohio have been facing challenges. 'We had a lot of levies that went down,' retired teacher Will Vickery said. 'As a result, we're seeing rifts of teachers, we're seeing ending of programs, we're seeing sports cut, we're seeing busing change and only offered to kindergarten through 4th grade.' Voter education is an important step in passing school levies, Vickery added. But he is worried about a new House bill that would limit communication ahead of elections. 'They have 11 other months of the year to provide information to their citizens,' state Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, said. Mathews and state Rep. Tex Fischer, R-Boardman, introduced H.B. 264, which would prohibit government entities from referring to — even without saying how to vote — a levy, bond issue, or candidate during early voting, the 30 days before an election. 'Making sure that their taxpayer dollars are used for the governing of their entities rather than influencing elections,' Mathews continued. Current law already bans public jurisdictions from taking partisan stances on issues. This would extend that provision to now prohibit the agency from providing information, explanation, or viewing. The following would be prohibited from being sent by a government entity in the 30 days before the election: a notice, placard, advertisement, brochure, flyer, direct mailer, newsletter, electronic message, internet article or advertisement, or other form of general publication that communicates information about the plans, policies, and operations of a state agency, political subdivision, or public official to members of the public. This doesn't include individual correspondence with a constituent. Some candidates, if they already hold a public office, could send excessive mailers to keep their name top of mind, he added. State lawmakers already have this prohibition. 'Mail will go out and say 'Look at how great our local jurisdiction is doing;' it does not say vote, it does not say re-elect, it does not say any of those things,' the legislator said. 'But it definitely leaves a positive impression on whoever is receiving that mail, and we want to make sure that there are clean lines.' Since 2018, Parma City Schools has had its levies fail 7 times, including earlier this month. Superintendent Charles Smialek said that under this bill, he would not be able to email their families to acknowledge the existence of a levy or even address school finance. 'We know that we can't campaign, but we should absolutely be allowed to inform,' Smialek said. 'At some point, it's infringing upon freedom of speech.' Mathews denied this, saying that candidates or campaigns would be able to use personal money. 'You can still obviously campaign as long as you do it on your own time with your own money,' he said. 'They had other months to discuss their financials.' There are some exceptions to the bill. If a school district website already has an explainer on what the levy is ahead of the 30-day blackout period, they don't need to take it down. As far as how the boards of elections would handle this bill, Mathews responded that it would allow for some communication deemed 'incredibly timely.' However, nonpartisan Case Western Reserve University elections law professor Atiba Ellis couldn't find this in the legislation. 'I know of no evidence of a problem that would require such a sweeping rule that has the potential to restrict government entities from performing their due tasks,' Ellis said. The secretary of state's office would still be allowed to conduct 'voter education programs' even when the incumbent appears on the ballot, according to the bill. 'This over-inclusion problem can't necessarily be solved by the exemption that was written,' Ellis said. According to Mathews, Ohio Sec. of State Frank LaRose has been sent the language. 'Our team is currently reviewing the legislation and will continue to monitor and have conversations with legislative members as the bill progresses through the legislative process,' LaRose's spokesperson Ben Kindel said. Ellis also brought up freedom of speech concerns, which Vickery echoed. 'You got to be able to keep the people informed, and it's their right to know,' the retired teacher said. 'If they're going to vote no, fine, vote no. But understand the potential consequences.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kindergarten redshirting sparks debate
CLEVELAND (WJW) — As enrollment deadlines for kindergarten near, many parents are grappling with a tough question: Is their child ready — or should they wait another year? Known as 'redshirting,' the practice of delaying kindergarten entry for children born close to school cutoff dates is gaining attention, especially among families with summer babies. Local police find raccoon with meth pipe in its mouth during arrest 'There is no one-size-fits-all answer,' said Parma City Schools Superintendent Charles Smialek. 'It really is dependent upon the child.' Redshirting, a term originally used in athletics, now describes the choice many parents face when their child's birthday lands near district enrollment deadlines. While some districts require children to be five years old by August 1 to enroll, others, including Parma, extend the deadline to September 30. 'That gives parents more wiggle room,' Smialek explained. 'It's an individual decision, and there's no right answer.' To help families navigate this challenge, some districts are stepping up with programs like Parma's Kindergarten Launch Academy and Boot Camp — early education initiatives designed to ease the transition for both students and parents. Experts like Dr. Emily Mudd, a pediatric psychologist at Cleveland Clinic, emphasize the importance of 'kindergarten readiness' over age alone. 'Kindergarten readiness — that's what I would call it,' said Dr. Mudd. 'It's not just about age. It's about emotional, social, and cognitive development.' $100K scratch-off winner sold at local grocery store And while some kids may thrive jumping into school as soon as possible, others may benefit from waiting a year to gain confidence and maturity. Regardless of the choice, Smialek says the focus is on support. 'We try to support them regardless of what decision they make.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
