North Ridgeville Review The Community That Cares
By: Dave Grendzynski
The North Ridgeville City Schools needs help, but it won’t cost taxpayers extra money.
District leaders are seeking support for Issue 13 when voters go to the polls on March 17. The money generated from Issue 13 will be used to cover 40 percent of the schools’ operating costs- without increasing taxes. Issue 13 is a substitute levy that will combine four existing levies into one and is fixed for a 10-year term.
It’s critical because the money generated from the levy helps to pay teacher salaries, fund programs, and services. And by combining the existing levies, it will account for the full tax base, including all of the new homeowners in North Ridgeville.
A “Yes” vote is also extremely important because the district is operating at 2013 funding levels. That’s because state law prohibits schools from receiving more funds when a community builds new homes. So, not only are North Ridgeville City School students attending class in overcrowded buildings, there’s not enough revenue to keep up.
North Ridgeville remains the fastest-growing city in Lorain County and the third-fastest growing city in the state. The district’s student population has grown by 700 in the past decade and almost half of the growth has occurred in the last two years. The influx of new families is pushing North Ridgeville High School and Liberty Elementary School overcapacity.
That growth is expected to last for at least the next several years based on the number of buildable lots in North Ridgeville.
District leaders say they remain committed to being responsible with taxpayer funds and will work with the community to provide the facilities, services, and programs that are most conducive to education—now and in the future.
