Lorain City Council unanimously approves resolution backing beleaguered school district

In a unanimous vote Monday night, Lorain City Council approved a resolution supporting the upcoming tax levy for Lorain City School District, which just recently was forced to make more than $17 million in budget cuts. The resolution passed Monday specifically pointed to reductions in funding from federal, state and county levels that increased the pressure on local districts for funding, a statewide issue. "Bad policy from our legislators at the state, federal and local level has attacked public education and put us with our backs against the walls," said At-Large Council member Tony Dimacchia, a former school board member who now serves as the district's director of operations. "They have taken the funding from public education and our students and given it to private education." Over the past several weeks, Lorain has grappled with the multi-million dollar cuts, which include a planned reduction in force of more than 160 teachers and staff. Next year's budget will slash all-day preschool, Title 1 teachers, reduce 106 teaching positions, shift scheduling to increase class sizes and eliminate programming such as dance and choir classes. Ward 6 Council member Angel Arroyo, Jr. said passing the current levy is an important matter. "I support every issue that's on our ballot this year, but this is probably one of the most important ones," Arroyo said. "It not only affects the staff, but affects our students. Less teachers in the classrooms mean less time for the young men and women." If approved in May, the new, 11-mill property tax levy, which would cost $385 in taxes for a house valued at $100,000, would generate approximately $10.6 million annually. If the levy fails, the school district would have to face further cuts. "This is about our children, and if this doesn't pass, wait and see what happens next," said Ward 3 Council member Pamela Carter. Council members vouched for the levy — which will appear as Issue No. 5 on May's election ballot — and encouraged members of the public to support it, as well. "So many of us are on fixed incomes, and we realize that it is difficult on all of us," said At-Large Council member Mary Springowski. "But nobody stops to think for a second how difficult it is on these children. And that's what they are. They say it takes a village, and we are all responsible for the future and the welfare of these kids." Changes to funding from the state level have resulted in shortfalls for school districts beyond Lorain. Elyria City Schools currently faces a funding cut of approximately $9 million — a deficit that may result in the reduction of around 50 teaching positions. In Vermilion, the public school district which serves portions of both Erie and Lorain counties recently approved the elimination of seven positions, five of which were teachers. "We cannot control every decision made in Columbus, but we can control whether we stand behind our students here in Lorain," Dimacchia said. "It's about protecting our kids from the consequences of policies that have shifted resources away from public education." Contact Garrett Looker at glooker@chroniclet.com.