The May 7, 2019 election ballot is quickly approaching.  I hope you have heard Walnut Twp. Local Schools will be on that May ballot to RENEW our 7-mill Emergency Property Tax Levy.  This levy raises approximately $1,000,000 for our students .  Please remember this is a RENEWAL, not a new tax.

Here are a few of the needs we were able to meet with the fund generated by this levy: Restored high school busing, re-opened the elementary library, purchased 2 new school buses, new roof on part of elementary and a new parking lot at the elementary.Also, 1 to 1 computer program for all students K-12, on-line courses for high school students and a new finish on the MHS gym floor.

Projects currently in the planning stage:  New elementary gym/stage floor, new sound system in the auditorium,  new elementary playground equipment, rotation of new Chromebook computers, increased on-line options for high school students and more new school buses to continue rotating our bus fleet.

A "big ticket" item looming over our budget is the COP (Certificate of Participation) loan taken out in 2007.  There are still 13 years of an approximately $250,000 payment left on that loan.  We made a payment of 1.2 million on that loan in fiscal year 2019.  It is our plan to finish paying off that loan in fiscal year 2020.  Paying it off in 2020 will save approximately $475,000 in interest payments, and stop the need to make that $250,000 payment each year until 2032.  Renewing this levy will make this plan very viable.

I think you can see we have been able to do positive things for our students with the funds generated by this levy.  We will continue to improve our facilities and offer our students a quality 21st Century Education with the renewal of this levy.  If you have questions, or want more information, do not hesitate to contact me at 740-467-2802, roctner@walnuttsd.org or better yet, stop by my office.

Yours in education,