SALINEVILLE — Southern Local School District Treasurer Greg Sabbato estimated that the failure of their two levies during the Nov. 5 general election could cost the district at least $900,000 per year.

Discussion of those levy failures as well as restrategizing for the spring election –when the district hopes to try again –dominated Southern’s monthly regular board meeting.

Community member Julie Orr said that 90 percent of the community members she consulted had been unaware of the levies’ presence before Election Day and questioned why the district hadn’t promoted the measures’ renewal more.

District Superintendent Tom Cunningham explained that since it was a renewal, they hadn’t anticipated the community would be unaware. “We need to learn from the mistake,” he added.

Sabbato explained that their legal counsel advised the district to just provide factual information in support of the renewals and not to openly campaign due to changes in Ohio law.

Any levy committee would have to be community-based.

There was a press release on the district’s website that outlined some of the particulars; however, the content obviously didn’t reach voters.

The first measure was a 2.25-mill renewal and a half-mill additional levy for a total of 2.75 mills. “It is renewing the 2.25-mill, five-year permanent improvement levy we’ve had in the past,” explained district Treasurer Greg Sabbato in the press release. “The permanent improvement levy increase was not really an increase. We’re just combining the PI and classroom facilities, since we can no longer have a classroom facility levy, because the building construction period has ended.”

He reiterated at the meeting that those funds had been used to complete some of the more recent projects including almost $99,482 for a roof replacement and another $781,660 on a new propane boiler system.

The renewal levy had been expected to generate $439,000 annually over the next year, which amounts to $83 for each $100,000 of real estate property value.

A current expenses levy –which is collected through 2025 –also had been on the ballot and failed.

Sabbato explained in that same earlier press release on their website, “This is a 7.84-mill, five-year levy and nothing will change with the taxes. It will approve what we have.”

This current expenses’ renewal, if approved, would have generated $1.09 million annually for five years. Also based on property taxes, it would have cost $162 per each $100,000.

Board member Jean Pastore inquired as to who is accountable for the existence of no levy committee.

Community member Orr said that the district has another chance to pass the levies in April before they expire, adding that a levy committee needs to be mobilized immediately. I want to see Southern Local succeed.”

School levy failure — especially renewals — weren’t just suffered by Southern Local. According to a state report, 51 percent of all school levies failed, including 29 percent of renewals.

In other action, board members unanimously approved the following:

— Substitutes for 2024-2025 school year: Kim Smith and Lori Marston, secretary; Pam Weekley, secretary, cafeteria, paraprofessional and teacher; Kristina Napirkowski, Max Smith and Kayla. Terdina, teacher; Elizabeth Mostella, Emily McCaulley and Krista Cook, teacher and paraprofessional; Jenna Moore, teacher, paraprofessional and cafeteria; as well as Scott McNeil, paraprofessional.

— Supplemental contracts for this school year: Justin Gerren, varsity assistant girls’ basketball coach; Mark Witherow, junior varsity girls’ basketball coach; Cory Boyle, eighth-grade girls’ basketball coach; Nikki Kellogg, seventh-grade girls’ basketball coach; Aiden Spahlinger, junior high wrestling coach; Fernando DeChellis, assistant bowling coach; Grant Spaite, freshman boys’ basketball coach; Rich Sloan, junior high boys’ basketball coach; Dennis Bowers, high school wrestling coach; Mark Emerging, high school wrestling assistant coach; Jimmy Malone, varsity bowling coach; Brian Spahlinger, volunteer wrestling coach; Tom Terdina, volunteer girls’ basketball coach; Chris Lewis and Conner Lewis, softball assistant coaches.

— Full-time substitute teachers for the high school, Natosha McCulley and Mikey Peters.

— Approval of district photographer JT Higgins for the 2024-2025 school year.

— A three-year teaching contract for Gerald Grimm through the conclusion of the 2026-2027 school year.

–Field trips for the golf team to Top Golf in Pittsburgh on Oct. 29; the art club on Nov. 21 to the Pittsburgh Glass Center; and the wrestling team to Oak Glen High School in New Cumberland WV for a college wrestling match.

–A one-year contract for Lonnie Fields as a para-professional and Elizabeth Roberts as a cafeteria worker.

— The retirement of art teacher Laurie Ronshak at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year with their best wishes.