Mr. Russell A. Chaboudy Superintendent

Russell Chaboudy
Superintendent
As the 2009-10 school year progresses we continue to work hard to provide a quality education for all students. Our district is currently rated effective by the Ohio Department of Education and three of our five buildings, Coventry High School, Lakeview Elementary and Turkeyfoot Elementary have earned an excellent rating. Coventry High School has received the excellent rating for the fourth consecutive year. The district continues to work on areas of need and we fully expect an excellent district rating either this year or next.

While our academics continue to increase each year our financial picture remains bleak as the district faces a $1.6 million dollar deficit to start the next school year as a result of a failed levy attempt last November. The district has made a number of cuts over the last few years and just last year eliminated a projected $800,000 deficit through reductions, pay freezes and building budget cuts. A number of OAPSE members were impacted as well as teachers and administrator positions being eliminated.

In an effort to reduce this deficit and avoid painful cuts to our teaching staff, sports program, busing, libraries and custodians the district has decided to put a 6.25 mill five year emergency levy on the May ballot. This levy will raise $1.985, 175 dollars a year for five years. The cost to homeowner of a $100,000 dollar home would be $15.95 a month and if you are 65 or over and you have applied for the Homestead Exemption you would pay $11.96 on a $100,000 dollar home. This is a small price to pay to provide a quality education to our young people, maintain our property values and promote pride in our community.  In a report by Haurin and Brasington in 1996 and by Goodman and Thibodeau in 1998 they determined that “Public school quality is one of the most important determinants of housing price”.

Failure of this issue will result in the elimination of 17 teaching positions including Physical Education, Art and Music in grades K-8 as well as the library positions and middle school sports being cut. Busing will be reduced to the state minimum which ends high school busing and busing for students that live less than two miles away. These cuts will decimate our system and it will take years to recover. We are asking you to help us avoid these painful cuts and continue the forward progress this district is making.

Passing this issue will allow us to continue to offer a good academic program without cutting teachers and programs. We will increase gifted services, provide additional high level classes, provide counseling services at all buildings, reduce pay to participate fees, offer PE, Art and Music in our elementary schools, increase the use of technology with our students, maintain middle school athletics, provide full time custodial hours and maintain pride in our community.

Please do your part by registering to vote and getting out on Election Day and supporting our children and our community. Good communities have good schools and good schools help to make a good community.

Thank you for your support and I look forward to continuing our efforts in providing your child a great academic experience.

Congratulations to our outstanding wrestling team for winning the league as well as the league tournament and the district championship. Best of luck to Beau Cross, Rusty Lockhart and four time league champion Randy Henline as they wrestle in the state tournament!

Go Comets!