Amanda Clearcreek Local Schools, Amanda, Ohio

Is it true that school administrators are being paid the athletic director's salary to do that work?

TRUE: No, that is false. No school administrator is being paid to do the work of the AD. Eliminating that salary and the cost for a part-time athletic secretary helped reduce the participation fee for our student-athletes.

When it currently cost approximately $7400 per pupil to operate the school, is it beneficial to receive open enrollment students who only
bring approximately $5800 with them?

TRUE: It offsets the loss of students from A-C that use open enrollment to go to another district.

During the presentation before the last board mtg, it was said that utility costs were not controllable. This is partially true. Cost per
units are not controllable. The amount of units are, to a point. Hasn't the school been able to cut back on utility costs? Is there anyway to
get some kind of comparison showing this?

TRUE: What we pay for utilities is out of our control, but how much we use is in our control. We get quarterly reports/analysis of our water,
electricity and natural gas usage. Check back for an update on this question, as we will post that information.

Does the school district pay for transportation of any special needs students to other schools? Why don't all the schools meet at central place in Lancaster to prevent crossing the county?

TRUE: The district pays those transportation costs. We have met, as county superintendents and transportation supervisors to coordinate
transportation. Our vocational students meet a bus from Canal Winchester to go to the career centers. We transport students from Berne Union to a
behavior program in Newark. What most do not consider is how many special needs students can be cared for or managed on one bus? We could put 25 students with behavior problems on one bus . . . is that reasonable? It is very difficult to get 2 adults on a bus for 10 students with behavior
problems.

I feel like my child should be getting more of a challenging education, but is getting a watered down education. It seems that a lot of time in the classroom is now focused on catching other kids up.

FALSE: State and federal legislation cares for both of these groups of students- No Child Left Behind mandates that all students make a year's
growth in learning, all public schools are held accountable to meet the year's growth standard (a.k.a. "value added) and it ensures that school
systems provide a challenging, rigorous education for all students. Not every child's year of growth will be the same because students do not know
the same information on the same day. Kids mature and learn at different rates. All are measured through the state achievement tests (formerly,
"proficiency" tests) and the current year's test results are compared to last year's results, giving a measure for the classroom teacher's value
added to that child- a year's worth of growth in learning.

Is it true the State of Ohio has the authority to take over the management of the district and possibly consolidate us with another
district for financial and management purposes?

TRUE, through the Ohio Department of Education, but that happens only when the district is no longer able to carry out the fudiciary responsibility
required. Amanda-Clearcreek continues to meet it's obligations through spending reductions, at this time.

Is it correct that we would continue to occupy our facilities but be under the other districts board, be required to meet the same tax
burden as the other district and we would no longer have local control of our school district?

TRUE, if a district is accepted by another in consolidation, the taxes of the accepting district is paid by all residents that are in the newly created entity. The current position from state leadership is for districts to "share" services, as opposed to eliminating a district through consolidation. Consolidation would be the last resort, only when a district can no longer meet it's financial obligations.

I have been told that teachers get "step" raises, but they are a secret. Is this true?

FALSE- Step raises are not a secret, but are like a bonus many workers in other fields get. The idea is for each year a teacher works the better
prepared they are, the more experienced they are. For that experience, educators in Ohio may get a "step" increase. Steps increases vary,
district to district, and are a negotiated item. For example, lets say a person had taught for 10 years, another had finished 8 years. Ten years
experience would likely get a step increase to be paid over the next school year for 10 years of experience, but the teacher with 8 years may
not until finishing 10 years. It depends on what each district negotiates with the teachers' union and on what years of experience a step increase
is granted.

This may be more than you want to know- this year (2010-2011) the entire staff-everyone working here- took a total pay freeze- no increase on the
base, no step for experience. Last year (2009-2010) the administrators and treasurer took a complete freeze- no base increase, no step. The
teachers and 3 bus drivers did get the experience step without an increase on the base. 2008-2009, the staff got a 1.5% base increase and an
experience step. 2007-2008, 2.5% on the base and a step increase.

Is it true that all of [the 1.5% earned income tax] is just going to go for raises for the teachers?

FALSE: This is a belief that supports so many 'no' voters, but it is not true. Because of the proposed percentage reduction in state funding,
projections indicate the need to cut an additional $1.7 million in costs, even if the levy passes.

Is it true that music and art are going to be eliminated even if the levy passes?

TRUE: If the state budget reduces funding to Amanda-Clearcreek Schools by 15%, as suggested, the district's operating budget will have a $1.7
million shortfall by the end of next year. As unfortunate and hurtful to students as it will be, many classes, programs and services will have to
be eliminated to ensure the district does not have a negative balance by fiscal year's end, as required by state law.

District Office - Rumor Mill