Cutting busing alone should warrant parents and grandparents in our district to vote in favor of the levy. As a parent of a soon to be freshman, we are contemplating options of high schools for next year. Walking is definitely not an option considering there are no sidewalks/streetlights like some city schools have. Its just sad that we have to even think of options when we have amazing teachers and support staff at our schools!

The taxes in this school district are getting higher and higher. I live in a modest home and my taxes will be over 325 a month to cover the schools. That my friends is just to much. And please don't mention how our home values will be affected because that is nonsense. We need to trim the fat and cut programs that are not is directly related to the education of a child. It is also every parents job to get their kid to school not the districts and busing would be one of the first things to cut. Good luck with the levy but it will not pass. People dont believe the district is doing everything possible with the dollars aquired. Just look at the waste of putting this issue on the ballot the last three times. Enough said!

Trips are a bonus not a necessity. That's the problem. Live within your means or get the support from somewhere else. If the kids want the trips so bad have the parents fund the program 100%. I would like to know just how much the budget has grown in the last 5-10 years. Responsibilty is to say no when you know you cant afford it. If you cant make it work some things have to go.

I have no words...John, you obviously have no children or grandchildren because it seems like you don't care what happens to the children in our community. You would know that these programs sometimes mold the character of little children. The teachers who would loose their jobs are teachers that impact the minds of young children. I am a proud alum of Woodridge and specifically chose this district for my children and their future. But choosing not to vote or voting "no" is jeopardizing their future.

When you see the cuts listed above, do you not realize how serious the district is taking this?

Administrative cuts , increase in county sale's tax . Any increase in student enrollment brings in extra monies ; not stagnant . Property tax increase does not equally share the responsibility of paying for the schools

No, the cuts were not made by the Levy Committee. After careful consideration, the cuts were made by the Administration and approved by the Board of Education. Check your facts.

Considering the percentage of my property taxes ( 50%) that already go to the Woodridge School district and the probability of new taxes from the Federal Government in 2013,

I will have to say NO to the levy.

Perhaps the Board should team up with other Districts to petition the State for more funds rather than beat on the local property owners again.
I would cast an affirmative vote for that.

Are the teachers being asked to help with the shortfall by contributing more to their benefits packages? That should be done before they ask taxpayers for more money. My kids attend IHM, and take the bus. I will gladly drive them before I vote for this levy. Enough is enough. It's possible my kids will attend Woodridge high school in the future, so I don't want a decimated system, but all cuts should be made, via union negotiations, before asking taxpayers for more money we just don't have in this bad economy.

Also, it has been suggested that much could be saved, and gained, by combining Cuyahoga Falls and Woodridge school districts, having one board, one superintendent, one transportation dept, etc. It is possible, but both cities would have to vote and approve the merger. If the situation is so dire, why is this option not even on the table? It is unsafe to allow elementary schoolers and middle schoolers to walk or ride their bikes on State Rd, Bath Rd, or Graham Rd, especially at that intersection of Graham and State. It seems to me the safety of the children has not even been considered.

We received a letter yesterday from the school district telling us bussing is cut for our child if the levy fails. This seems like, I hate to say it, coersion, at best. Very disappointing. I will still be voting no.

So, it would be better for the levy to fail and then find out that bussing is cut? That's an ignorant statement. Stating facts isn't coersion. It's simply an announcement of what will change within the district given the upcoming budget. As far as field trips, the parents already fund them nearly 100%. The reason they are on hold is because teachers accompany the students to facilitate the learning that happens (these aren't vacations, after all), and those costs are being cut. But make no mistake, parents pay for these trips. If you made even a little effort, you could know such things.

Funny, we never got a letter prior to any other levy votes. What steps has the board, or unions, taken to reduce costs THIS time around? They have tried THREE TIMES to pass this levy, and it has failed each time. Now they resort to threatening to cut the bussing of our kids to try to affect the outcome. This "ignorant" tax payer is still voting NO because nothing has changed! Let's wait and see if the unions make any concessions. Let them try again next year, AFTER it's proven they've taken steps to reduce costs. You know, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome. Sound familiar? It looks like a lot of teachers and support staff are going to lose their jobs when this levy fails, so it seems to me that the unions, who are supposed to protect their members, should have come to the table early, in the spirit of saving those jobs and showing the community they are willing to do their part, even though their current contract isn't up until June, 2013. But I guess that is just IGNORANT of me to expect that.

As a side note, I am new to this venue, and it's disheartening to see that the holier than thou-ness is present here as well.