In January of 2025, Northmont City School’s Board of Education voted to add an emergency levy to the May 6th ballot.
This levy would generate $3.5 million dollars for the district so that they can continue functioning without having to sacrifice a large amount of programs. According to the Northmont City Schools Levy FAQ, “These funds will be used for operation of the district at current levels of efficiency. The district has cut 41 staff positions and closed a building in the last 2 years to continue operating without a deficit. Once a levy is passed by the citizens the amount of money collected will never increase. The district saw 0.26% increase in combined funding from local and state funds this past fiscal year. The cost to maintain existing services has exceeded our local and state funding” (Jennifer Wood, January 16th).
If the levy passes, it would raise taxes for every household in the district by $10 per $100,000 of the home value (not through any online home appraisal service, but by the County Auditor). In an interview, High School Principal T. D. Evans had this to say about the following questions:
- Can you tell me a general overview of the levy and what would be cut?
“So, it’s actually on the school website. That list of after school clubs that have a supplemental attached to them, so we’re not going to pay teachers extra to do that kinda stuff is a big part of it and then transportation for athletic events are probably the two biggest ones.”
- What would you have to say to the parents of students involved in the extracurriculars and athletics that are being affected by this?
“Well it’s kinda hard for me to say that cause I can’t . We’re at school right now and I can’t say “You need to go support the levy or don’t go support the levy.” I can only talk in facts so that one I gotta pass on cause there’s not much I can say other than just make sure you know what’s gonna get cut.”
- After hearing what has been said at board meetings and online, is it true that athletics are directly being sheltered from being affected?
”I can’t count on what other people have said.”
- Are there any extracurricular programs that won’t have their supplemental contracts affected?
“So if it’s co-curricular would be one thing. JROTC would be one, that’s a co-curricular class so they wouldn’t be able to go to competitions but they would still be able to do stuff outside of school that they would get a grade for. Like band would also be something. You get a grade for band.”
- How will extracurriculars function if there are no supplemental contracts?
“Probably won’t have those extracurriculars next year if there are no supplemental contracts tied to them.”
- Can you explain the reasoning or process behind what athletics and extracurriculars were chosen for reductions?
“No cause that’s above me. That’s the central office. Reach out to Mr. Thomas, he’s better fit to talk about than me.”
- What would happen to the funding that each program fundraised if they were unable to exist in the future years?
“That’s a good question. I can’t answer that. That would be a question better fit for Mr. Thomas too. “
- Certain programs tend to bring a lot of funding/crowds to the high school due to how big their influence is. Are those programs being offered any mercy against having their supplemental contracts cut because of this?
“I don’t know. I don’t know the rationale behind everything they chose. I would need an example.
Interviewer: A cappella, for example, brings massive crowds to the high school. Their concerts are very largely attended but they do not make money by at-the-door sales.
“A Cappella would be cut because it is not a co-curricular. The choir classes have their concerts, but A Cappella would be cut because it isn’t tied to a class.”
