The League of Women Voters of the Tiffin Area believes that the public school districts should provide quality education in order to prepare all students for life in our world.

     The League supports program, services and facilities that:

• are above state minimum standards;
• are based on planning and prioritizing;
• utilize multiple sources of funding to provide adequate support.

1. Provision of Services

In order to meet present and future needs of public education students, the League believes that the following programs, services and facilities that are above the 1990 state minimum standards could be provided by local districts.

    Curriculum
          Academic
                3 years foreign language in more than one language
                Advanced math
                3-4 years physical education
          Vocational
          Gifted
          Remedial
                English (reading and writing)
                Math
                Provided at all levels
          Handicapped
                Expansion at secondary level
          Summer Education Opportunities
          Adult Education

    Extra-Curricular (non-credit) 
          Athletics
          Academics
          Drama
          Fine Arts
          Music

   Support Services
          Administrative Services 
          Libraries
          Guidance counselors
          Transportation
          School psychologists
          Food Service

   Physical Plant
          Permanent locations
          Playgrounds
          Temporary locations
          Athletic facilities
          Multi-purpose rooms
          Maintenance

If extra-curricular athletics are provided, the League also believes that equal opportunity for participation should be available to all students.

2. Essential vs. non-essential programs, services and facilities

The League believes that choices should be made about programs, services, and facilities above those required by state law on an essential vs. non-essential basis. To support that premise, the League believes that the following programs, services and facilities are essential.

The League believes that the following programs, services and facilities are non-essential:

3. Ranking of Services

The League believes that decisions regarding essential programs, services and facilities must be based upon priorities. Therefore, the League supports the following ranking:

    High Priority
          Academic
                3 years foreign language in more than one language
                Advanced math
          Libraries
          Remedial
                Available at all levels
          Teaching materials
          Integrated facilities adequate for curricular and programming needs
             to include permanent locations, temporary locations, scheduled
             maintenance, multi-purpose rooms and playgrounds.

    Medium Priority
          3 - 4 years physical education
          School Psychologists
          Guidance counselors
          Transportation
          Food service

    Low Priority
          Administrative Services

4. Criteria

The League believes the following criteria should be considered in determining the level of essential programs, services and facilities provided above those mandated by state minimum standards:

    Criteria of high ranking include:

• a long-range plan that integrates services, programs, and facilities
• teacher qualifications above minimum certification standards
• flexibility in the budget for funding local priorities
• outcome measures such as percent of graduates employed and/or enrolled    in higher education, attendance rates, and dropout rates.

• teacher/pupil ration 
• cost per pupil
• physical classroom size
• standardized assessment

• minimum standards
• administration/pupil ratio.

The League believes that adequate financial support is necessary to maintain quality programs, services and facilities in local education. Fund sources should include a combination of property tax, income tax, bonds and participation fees.

The League supports property tax and income tax use for operating, permanent improvement and/or capital improvement levies and bond retirement. League supports bond issues for funding permanent improvement and capital improvement needs. Participation fees should be used to fund only food services.

The League believes that there should be a balance among the types of revenue, particularly between property tax and income tax.

Background on Positions:

In May of 1989 the study was adopted with the following scope: "an evaluation of education funding for local public school systems within our League area, studying areas of program, staff and facilities." Unit meetings were held in the fall, presenting information on Tiffin City Schools facilities. Superintendent Larry Cook and school board member William Hite were present to answer questions.

A general meeting was held in February 1990 featuring Dr. Irene Bandy, State Asst. Superintendent, Ohio Dept. of Education, speaking on Senate Bill 140. Two general meetings were held in March, with consensus taken at that time. Positions were adopted in April 1990.

"State of the Schools" was the subject of the community dinner meeting in February 1991. Administrators from three local districts were guest panelists.

A September 1993 general meeting featured Assistant Supt. Paul Assenheimer, who reviewed the school reorganization plan scheduled to go into effect in fall, 1993.

"State of the Schools" was again the subject of the March 1994 community issues dinner. Tiffin's new superintendent, Forest Yocum, was guest speaker.

An operating levy and bond issue were both defeated in November 1994. A reduced operating levy only was put on the May 1995 ballot. The League joined a coalition in support of the levy and scheduled two general meetings, In January and April, both open to the public. The levy passed.

At the 1999 Annual meeting, Denise Callihan, Supt. of the Tiffin School District, presented the Feasibility Study, conducted by outside consultants, evaluating existing facilities and proposing various recommendations. She also explained how the state's funding plan would impact the School District.

During the September 2000 General meeting, Denise Callihan explained the Bond Issue that was to be on the November ballot. It was to provide adequate funding to purchase land, construct a new middle school and maintain the building. The League supported the issue. On election day the Tiffin voters supported the plans for the new school.

The new middle school is under construction and it is anticipated that it will open in 2003.

2003--2004 Goal: Retain the position and monitor.