Westerville Schools Brace for Staffing Cuts, Fee Hikes if Levy Fails
Westerville City Schools are once again at a critical crossroads. District leaders have warned that if voters reject a proposed 0.75% earned income tax issue on the November 4 ballot, the consequences will be felt in classrooms, on playing fields, and throughout the community.
The levy, expected to generate about $24.3 million annually if approved, is aimed at stabilizing the district’s finances after years of increasing budget pressure. If it fails, officials say they must reduce general fund expenses by about $20 million each year, cuts that would strike at the heart of student learning and opportunity.
The district’s plan outlines sweeping reductions: more than 124 positions eliminated across grade levels, fewer art, music, PE, and library teachers in elementary schools, and reductions in core academics and electives at the middle and high school levels.
The International Baccalaureate program could be phased out, while Advanced Placement and College Credit Plus offerings would shrink. Gifted services, magnet programs, and technology support also stand to be diminished.
Families, too, would feel the weight of the cuts. Pay-to-participate fees could rise to $350 per sport at the middle school level and $500 per sport in high school, with club fees also climbing, and no family cap to soften the cost.
Transportation reductions would mean longer rides and fewer bus routes, while summer school, field trips, and even all-day kindergarten could be eliminated.
Superintendent Angie Hamberg stressed that the district has already trimmed $9.1 million in the past year, but further reductions would now directly affect students.
Board President Kristy Meyer underscored that this is not about “bells and whistles” but about preserving the foundation of a quality education in the face of dwindling state support.
At its core, this is more than tax policy. It is about children’s right to a quality education, which calls on communities and governments to provide every child with the fullest opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. The decisions made in November will determine how well Westerville can honor that responsibility.
