District Update - March 5

Our Middies continue to amaze! Our students truly shined on the field, court, stage, and mat this weekend! We are so excited to share the recent accomplishments of our students and congratulate them on their success. You have all made Midview so proud!!!

• Lady Middies Basketball beat Solon for the Regional championship and have entered the final four!
• Alexis Weber was named State Champion in high jump!
• Hunter Anderson and Austin Dye qualified for States in wrestling!
• Midview Band qualified for States with a superior rating!

Last night, Lady Middies Basketball continued their historic run, beating Solon in the Regional Championship and entering the State final four! In support of our girls and to allow for travel time to Dayton, school will be canceled on Friday, March 10. The only stipulation is that we pack the University of Dayton and show them what Middie Nation is all about! Join us in cheering on our girls!

Details: Midview vs. Princeton Girls Basketball OHSAA State Semifinal Game

Location: University of Dayton Arena

Date & Time: March 10 at 6 p.m.

Ticketing information will be available here in the coming days.

Transparent communication with our community has consistently remained a focal point of our efforts at Midview Local Schools. Most times, celebration of our many successes makes this an easy task. Academic and extracurricular achievements are fun to detail, placing students at the center of our messages while highlighting their talents and the talents of our dedicated staff.

That said, it is also our responsibility to communicate challenges. We invest time teaching our students the importance of challenges and often promote the skills of collaboration, critical thinking, and persistence to help overcome them. And, now, we must do the same for the challenge before us.

Since 2022, we have promoted the necessity of the substitute levy and its potential impact on our current operations and future student outcomes. Unfortunately, the levy’s loss in November 2022 increased the importance of its passage in May and generated the need to put a contingency plan in place.

Detailed below are the specific budget and staffing reductions that Midview will face should the levy fail for a second time in May.

Those who work in education enter the profession to be in the business of creating impactful student outcomes. I can assure you that my decision to become superintendent did not include downsizing a workforce and decreasing opportunities for kids.

Strong schools will always act as the foundation for strong communities. Midview Local School District is a source of pride within our community. It bears repeating - our students, staff, parents, and community make us who we are and We Are Midview.

Take Care,

Dr. Willingham

Whether you feel you need more information to make an informed decision, would like specific details to share with others, or just simply have a few questions - all are encouraged to attend our upcoming Informational Levy Session.

Date: March 8

Time: 7 P.M.

Location: High School Gymnasium

To learn more about Issue #4, please visit our levy website by clicking the button below.

Since the substitute levy was introduced last year, we have made every effort to communicate to ensure that our families and community are well-informed. Discussion of reductions is never easy. This is why the focus of our communications continues to be on how we can maintain current levels of performance and operations rather than potential reductions. It is truly our hope that this proposed plan is never put into action.

The following proposed plan of reduction accounts for $4.6 million - a portion of the district's projected future deficit.

Staffing Reductions:

• Administrative/Communication: 2 building level and 2 district level positions reduced or 21% of total administrative staff
• Teaching Staff: 44 positions reduced or 16% of total teaching staff
• Support Personnel - 15 positions reduced or 17% of total support personnel
• Building/District Secretaries
• Food Services
• Custodial/Maintenance
• Transportation

Changes to Programming:

• Increase in fees/tuition:
• Pay to participate increased to $525 per sport with no individual or family cap
• Increase in technology fees for all students from $15 to $45
• Preschool tuition increased to $1700
• Kindergarten reduced to half-day. Schools do not receive state funding for full-day Kindergarten. Full-day option would cost approximately $2500 and would require a commitment from at minimum 22 students.
• Increase in class sizes to 26-30 students per class at each grade level
• Reduction in STEM classes and career pathways leading into high school (Project Lead the Way)
• Reduction in Elementary tutoring support
• Reduction in electives
• 3 at the Middle School
• At least 3 at the High School
• Special Education caseloads would be increased closer to the state's maximum
• Reducing building administration would create a ratio of one administrator to 500 students. Reducing building secretaries would create a ratio of 1.5 secretaries per two grade levels. Reducing guidance would create a ratio of one counselor to 500 students.

Transportation:

• A reduction in bus drivers would reduce busing routes. Busing would be reduced to a two-mile radius around the district and our transportation department would no longer be able to honor special requests such as drop off and pick up at caregivers' homes and daycare centers.
• Transportation to events will no longer include non-essential participants (band, flag core, cheer), teams would be required to combine for trips when possible, and no freshman buses for early events will be available.

Feb. 28

• High school girls basketball: OPSWA 2022-23 Northeast Lakes All-District teams - News-Herald
  

March 2

• Midview continues historic run with 70-45 win over Hoban in Division I regional semifinal
  
• 'These girls were on a mission': Midview swats Hoban out of OHSAA girls basketball regionals
  
• Solon and Midview advance to OHSAA Division I girls basketball regional final
  
• Olivia DiFranco's career-high 34 points pushes Midview past Akron Hoban in regional semifinal
  
• Meng, DiFranco Sisters lead Midview Past Hoban - Kee On Sports Media Group
  

March 4

• Midview girls basketball: Middies blowing through the competition en route to Elite 8
• Division I district wrestling: Midview's Hunter Anderson one of 6 to advance to semifinals

March 5

• Olivia DiFranco's game-winner sends Midview to 62-59 win over Solon in Division I regional final
• Midview rallies past Solon for last-second win and Division I girls basketball regional title