Primary Elections 2019: Strongsville School Levy Passes

STRONGSVILLE, OH — Strongsville voters passed a 5.9-mill, five-year levy on Tuesday. About 53 percent of voters were in favor of the levy, according to the unofficial election results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

While results have yet to be certified by the Board of Elections, the unofficial tally shows that 6,446 votes were cast for the levy, while 5,589 were cast against the levy. School district officials will celebrate a turnaround victory.

In the November elections, voters roundly rejected a different levy funding the Strongsville Schools. More than 60 percent of local voters cast their ballots against a proposed 7.9-mill levy in 2018. Since that defeat, the Strongsville Schools say they have cut more than $1 million from the district budget.

Superintendent Cameron Ryba said he hoped the austerity measures would inspire more 'yes' votes on Tuesday, when the proposed 5.9-mill five-year levy went before voters. If Tuesday's levy had also failed, Ryba said district could have faced even deeper cuts.

Ryba publicly stated a second round of cuts — totaling about $3.2 million — would go into effect if the May 2019 levy failed at the ballot box. Those cuts would have included: the elimination of three more sports teams and 12 clubs, reductions in theatrical performances, the elimination of some field trips and travel for any Strongsville High groups, no upgrades or replacements for technology or text books, an administrative pay freeze and staff reductions.

Opposition to Tuesday's levy accused the district of managing its funds poorly and being unaware of the activities of rogue employees, like a maintenance worker that stole equipment from the school district.