The Clark-Shawnee school board has approved a plan to cut staff and eliminate sports if future levies fail, aiming to shield families on fixed incomes. The district is seeking a 1% earned income tax on May 5th for current expenses, which only applies to those earning wages and salaries or being self-employed. This plan includes reductions for the 2026-27 school year, with class sizes and course offerings reviewed annually based on student enrollment. Regardless of the May levy outcome, four teaching positions will be cut. If the levy fails, further cuts include reducing 1.5 teaching and 1.5 support staff positions, eliminating busing within a two-mile radius, and reducing curriculum, technology, and building budgets by 10%. If the levy is placed on the November ballot and fails, athletics and extracurricular activities will be eliminated, and facilities will be closed to outside organizations. If the levy is placed on the May 2027 ballot and fails, four more teaching positions will be cut. The district's last operating levy for new money was passed in 2014, and the proposed tax aims to provide financial stability. However, the state of Ohio's overreliance on property taxes and housing value volatility have led to concerns about proposing an additional property tax levy. Voters have rejected the levy twice, and the district had to reduce support staff hours and increase student fees to compensate for the levy's failure.
