July 7, 2011
State budget signed
District facing $10M funding loss By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Gov. John Kasich signed the two-year state budget into law last week, including a $10.7-million reduction in funding for Dublin City Schools. Dublin initially was facing a larger funding reduction of $14.5 million after Kasich announced his plans for the twoyear budget in April. Amendments to the budget and givebacks from staff have put the district on
better financial ground. Dublin was set to lose a portion of tangible-personal-property-tax reimbursements and foundation funding, but budget amendments have set the district’s only loss to TPPT. The district wasn’t expecting to depend on funding from TPPT reimbursements indefinitely. TPPT taxed businesses on inventory, equipment and utilities but was eliminated by the state in favor of the commercial activity tax. Through House Bill 66, the state pledged to re-
imburse schools for the TPPT loss, with a slow phase-out of the funding through 2020. Kasich’s budget called for an accelerated phase-out of TPPT reimbursements, cutting the $10 million annually Dublin was expecting for the next two fiscal years. “Foundation funding was restored, so what we’re looking at is still $4 million in reductions next year,” district treasurer Stephen Osborne said. Next year, the district will see a $1.4-
million reduction in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funding and a $2.9 million cut in TPPT reimbursements. “The following year, we’ll see a $6.7million reduction,” Osborne said. “That’s $10.7 million over two years.” The reduction for the 2012-13 fiscal year means a $1.1-million reduction in ARRA funding and $5.6 million in TPPT reimbursements. The restoration of state foundation funding and concessions made by staff have helped the district, Osborne said.
“I think when you look at the five-year forecast, certainly the givebacks of the (Dublin Educators Association), (Dublin Support Association) and administration help to cover some of the losses, as well as we already forecast some reductions here in the district,” he said. “We already knew (ARRA) money wasn’t coming back. We built in a 10-percent reduction in state funding, and that covers some of the reduction in TPPT (reimbursement See $10M FUNDING LOSS, page A3
Dublin officer, military aided by Grizzell Middle School
WHEN SMOKEY SINGS
By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
program that also gives early college experience and credit for college and Ohio State University classes.” Dublin school officials have been looking at Metro High School’s “Bodies” program. “That would be part of what we’re looking to expand,” Trego said. “The third program we’re looking at is in
Grizzell Middle School became a favorite to some in Afghanistan after Chuck Rudy, Ohio Air National Guard 121st Security Forces first sergeant, served a four-month stint there recently. The Dublin middle school started by sending care packages to the Dublin police officer, who serves as the school’s resource officer, but the generosity soon was expanded. “We started out just as staff and thought to send him a care package of cookies — he loves cookies — on a regular basis,” Grizzell principal Thom Jones said. “Then we asked, ‘Is there anything else you need?’ He shared with us that he was stationed where groups of troops and special ops come in and get resupplied and go back out.” Cookies wouldn’t work to supply nutrition for troops flying rescue and other missions, Jones said, so the school started collecting packages of tuna, chicken and salmon. “We got started and opened it to students and talked to parents, and before we knew it, we were just inundated for months with whatever he needed,” he said. “I’m very proud of our staff, students and parents for embracing this.” Rudy, who was stationed in Kandahar from January to May, received 100 boxes sent from the school. Boxes were filled with food, toiletries and other items. “It’s incredible. The boxes would come in almost every day, it seemed like,” Rudy said. “Whoever picked up the box would look at me and shake their heads, like, ‘You’re getting another box?’” Rudy said he served as the middleman for the 4,500 items sent to the troops. “They affected a lot of lives,” he said, adding that 350 people benefited from them sending the items
See GRANT, page A5
See DUBLIN OFFICER, page A4
By Chris Parker/ThisWeek
Motown singer Smokey Robinson performs on stage at Dublin Coffman High School during Dublin’s Independence Day festivities July 4. For more pictures of Dublin’s celebration of the Fourth of July, see page A6.
Grant to fund engineering, new programs By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Dublin City School District has received a $250,000 grant to help expand its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program. The district was one of 45 in the state to receive a portion of $16.2 million in Race to the Top grants from the Ohio Department of Education.
“This award is an opportunity for you to raise the academic expectations for all students and schools,” state board of education president Debe Terhar said in a press release. Ohio received funding from the federal Race to the Top program that seeks to stimulate education reform. Dublin’s grant will fund STEM programs, at Coffman, Jerome and Scioto high schools.
According to deputy superintendent Michael Trego, the grant will help fund a new engineering academy and possibly two other programs. “The grant was written to help support the new engineering academy that we’re beginning this fall,” Trego said. “We’re doing a collaboration with Metro High School. We’ll even expand beyond that engineering program. We’re looking at a biomedical
Team Noah Man to honor child, donations By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Noah Maloney often was called a comedian. “He made an impression on everyone,” said his father, John Maloney. “He was a comedian. He made everyone laugh.” The impression Noah left on people could be why more than 160 people have joined Team Noah Man, which will honor and remember the 6-year-old at the Dash for Donation on July 9. Maloney, a kindergartner at Bailey Elementary School, died March 12 after an accident while playing on an outdoor slide. Noah’s mother, Jennifer, said she is a tissue and organ donor and, after Noah’s death, decided to make him one as well. “It’s important to help as many people as possible,” she said. “We don’t have control over death, so why not?” “It’s amazing how Jennifer didn’t even
hesitate one second when they asked,” John said of the decision. “I don’t know what I would have said.” According to Lifeline of Ohio, the nonprofit group behind the Dash for Donation, 303 Ohioans last year helped 901 people through organ and tissue donation. One donor has the potential to save the lives of as many as eight people and enhance the lives of more than 50 others through vital organ and tissue donation, according to the organization. The July 9 Dash for Donation, which features a 5K run/walk, is about education and honoring and remembering donors, said Rachel Lewis, Lifeline of Ohio community-outreach coordinator. Lots of people are ready to honor and remember Noah on July 9. “He was loving. He cared about everySee TEAM TO HONOR, page A2
By Chris Parker/ThisWeek
John and Jennifer Maloney hold pictures of their son, Noah, who died in a playground accident earlier this year. The Maloneys have formed a team for an upcoming tissue-donation fundraiser and have 160 team members.
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