Answering more questions in Ohio
OHIO — The special joint meeting of the Ohio High and Ohio Grade School boards, held Oct. 5, to review a report created by the Future of Ohio High School committee answered some questions, but generated some new ones as well.
At a high school board meeting this week, Superintendent Sharon Flesher answered some of the questions she had received since the meeting.
One question was whether voters would actually be allowed to vote if an annexation question was placed on the ballot. In August, 10 Ohio High School District residents formed the Committee of 10, which announced plans to collect signatures to put the question on the ballot as to whether Ohio should annex into the Princeton district.
Flesher said it’s still uncertain whether voters would be allowed to vote, and said it would be possible that a regional hearing board could actually make the decision. She said the Illinois State Board of Education lawyers are still reviewing the question because this is the first time such a situation has arisen since a change in the law.
Another area resident asked Flesher if the school board was afraid to put the annexation question on the ballot. Flesher said she didn’t feel the board was afraid, but rather just wanted to gather any data on the question before making any decisions.
Another resident questioned the extracurricular part of the report, asking how Ohio could say it offered certain activities when they’re only available through co-ops with the Princeton and LaMoille high school districts. Flesher said the school board chose to co-op to make more options available for students for less money, and the high school is still recognized by the state as offering those sports.
Another person asked Flesher if the district could afford to deactivate. In the report, Flesher estimated it would cost the grade school an additional $400,000 per year plus salaries and benefits if the high school was consolidated or annexed, and an additional $200,000 per year plus salaries and benefits if the school was deactivated.
Flesher also said her estimates of the impact on the grade school of closing the high school were just estimates, and not concrete numbers. She said definite numbers on such things as staffing and supplies could not be predicted, and the numbers she gave were her best estimate.
Flesher also discussed the possibility of lowering the tax rate if and when the Big Sky Wind Farm becomes operational and begins paying taxes. If the district deactivates and pays tuition to send students to one or more high schools, the district would continue to exist and would be able to vote to lower the tax rate and provide funds for the grade school, such as by helping to maintain the building.
If the district would annex into the Princeton High School District, she said there would be no separate Ohio High School District and no local control over tax dollars.
Busing was also a topic of concern, and Flesher said two or three high school students regularly ride the bus.
Another question was whether the students who attended and spoke at the joint meeting received extra credit. Flesher said for 15 years the districts have awarded extra credit for attending community meetings, and that the extra credit awarded for attending the meeting was “not a new thing.” She said no additional credit was given for those students who spoke.
Board President Harold Albrecht said board members had a lot to think about before deciding whether to put any questions on the ballot. If the question is to go on the ballot, the decision must be made at next month’s meeting. However, if the board decides on a general survey, that can be done independently of the ballot.
“This merits a lot of thought,” Albrecht said.
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