Reynoldsburg lays out next steps after levy failure

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Reynoldsburg community had a chance to hear from the Reynoldsburg School Board on what the next steps will be after the district’s emergency bond issue failed in November. 

The meeting was much different than a regular school board meeting. It was more of an intimate setting, allowing community members to rotate from group to group and ask school officials questions directly.  

“I really appreciated the way the district did this tonight because we were able to visually see the cuts that were being made and make informed decisions for ourselves. You know, is this what we want as a district? Is this necessary as a district?” parent Crystal Davies said. 

Dozens of people showed up for the meeting. There were several presentations for people to sit in on. Each had a screen breaking down prices.   

“I feel like it's not that they're trying to take things away from us, it's just that they're just trying to find different programs that might just be a cheaper rate than what they have right now. And I think that's great,” parent Melanie Gore said. 

Since their emergency levy failure in November, the Reynoldsburg City School District has been working through ways to balance their budget as they must cut $8.5 million dollars. At a previous board meeting in December, there was talk of possible reductions including fewer assistant principals in elementary schools, getting rid of athletic programs as a whole, and much more. Parents said they were concerned. 

“So I am worried. I am worried about the kids who maybe don't have the support at home, that this is where they get most of their education. This is where they're learning, they're thriving, they're growing, that these cuts are going to be hurtful for them,” Davies said. 

“The only thing I worry about the district is so many kids like accumulating into the district. I think that that will probably make the district overwhelmed,” Gore said. 

While many are concerned about the future, they say they appreciate the district being transparent with where the money is going.  

“If we could get more parents involved, and if there was a better understanding, then hopefully further down the road we could get a levy passed that we need.”  

If you couldn’t make it out to this event, school officials say there is another happening next week, where they will continue to discuss the levy.