Latest news with #LocalSchools
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After bond issue failure, Teays Valley looks for options
TEAYS VALLEY, Ohio (WCMH) — As communities in central Ohio grow, so do school districts. Enrollment is up at Teays Valley Local Schools, but district leaders said that growth will be harder to handle without new buildings. On the May primary ballot, Teays Valley asked for money to build two new schools to help with capacity issues; 68 percent of voters turned it down, leaving Superintendent Kyle Wolfe to look for new solutions. Columbus officer confronts school board after being denied access to school 'A school district like ours, which is growing, which is running out of capacity, which is educating kids in hallways, closets, stages and modular classrooms, it's going to be a difficult go moving forward,' Wolfe said. The superintendent said he had hoped voters would back the district's plan for two new intermediate schools for fifth and sixth graders, which would have freed up space at the elementary and middle schools. 'People do not want to pay any more taxes, and that's the traditional way that schools come back to the residents to build new facilities,' Wolfe said. 'We do not need operating money, but we're simply out of capacity.' Now, Teays Valley is redistricting some students and will add more modular classrooms. Ohio congressman introduces bill to study 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' 'While our staff makes those spaces as inviting as possible, they're not great learning environments for kids,' Wolfe said. Parent Kim Miller has two kids in the district and she said the middle schools are particularly tight. 'We're out of space, we're out of locker space, we're out of classrooms, we're out of gym space, art space, music space, hallway space, cafeteria space, restroom space,' Miller said. These changes come as the Teays Valley area grows. Wolfe said there are six new neighborhoods currently being built. Ohioans spent nearly $80 million on cannabis last month, with clear product preferences Parents like Miller have encouraged school leaders to put the issue in front of the voters again. 'We're out of space already, let alone the amount of space it's needed for the kids who are coming in and the new homes,' Miller said. Superintendent Wolfe said the district won't go back to the ballot in November. He said more work needs to be done to educate the community on the capacity issues and cost. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Examining Perrysburg Schools' identity fraud case through a legal lens
PERRYSBURG, Ohio (WJW) — Perrysburg Local Schools said it is conducting a full investigation into a highly deceptive and unusual case where a 24-year-old migrant from Venezuela enrolled at the high school using fraudulent documents and false pretenses. Many in the community are left wondering: how did this happen? Anthony Labrador Sierra, 24, is accused of posing as a 16-year-old high school student. Immigration attorney Margaret Wong weighed in on the legal implications. 'I get goosebumps when I hear that my 16-year-old daughter could be in the same class as a 24-year-old man,' Wong said. Labrador Sierra, a Venezuelan national, is accused of falsifying documents to enroll at Perrysburg High School. Authorities said he claimed to be an unaccompanied minor experiencing homelessness. WATCH: Police arrest 24-year-old accused of posing as Ohio high school student The district said it followed federal and state requirements under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which mandates enrollment for students experiencing homelessness or without a legal guardian. Wong said the school was operating with the right intentions. 'I sort of feel bad for the school because I think now the school is sending out media releases saying it's not their fault,' she said. 'Of course it's not their fault. If someone lies to them — and it's such a small, beautiful, welcoming town — I think we shouldn't blame the school. We should ask what kind of people come to America and do that.' Labrador Sierra participated in the junior varsity soccer and swim teams, which raises concerns about an unfair competitive advantage due to his age. The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) issued a statement: 'Thanks again for your communication and transparency on this issue. After a review, Perrysburg HS took all appropriate actions to verify this person's information, and even inquired/communicated with our office back in the fall, in order to determine their athletic eligibility. As your Superintendent indicated, this case involves highly unusual and deceptive circumstances that impacted many local, state and federal agencies, and your school had no way of knowing/combating this falsification. As such, there are no penalties or forfeitures which will be required of your sports teams on which this individual played. 'Also, I know this person will not be coming back to any school, but his eligibility has been revoked under Bylaw 4-1-2, Falsification. 'Thanks again for your efforts, and let me know if you have any follow up questions.' Wong also noted that the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld the Trump administration's decision to strip legal protections from approximately 350,000 Venezuelans. Former New York state trooper pleads guilty to faking his own shooting Labrador Sierra was taken into custody at the Wood County jail and faces felony forgery charges. The Department of Homeland Security announced on Wednesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer for Labrador Sierra. 'Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra is a 24-year-old illegal alien from Venezuela who has been posing as teenager and attending Perrysburg High School in Ohio,' DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. 'Labrador was arrested and charged with forgery by the Perrysburg Ohio Police Department on May 19 for using fake documents to become enrolled in the high school. ICE lodged a detainer to ensure that this criminal illegal alien is removed from this community and no longer able to prey on the students of Perrysburg High School. It is disturbing that a grown man would impersonate a teenager and infiltrate the lives of underage girls and boys to fool them into doing God knows what.' Wong believes he will face prosecution in Wood County before any immigration proceedings take place — especially if additional charges emerge. 'Immigration should immediately issue a Notice to Appear,' she said. 'Actually, don't even issue a Notice to Appear — I would just deport him right away. I know it sounds harsh, and I'm a foreign-born immigrant myself. But on the other hand, is deportation punishment enough?' Wong called the case an extreme violation of trust and kindness. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Mad River levy on May ballot would replace expired levy
RIVERSIDE, Ohio (WDTN) — Riverside voters will see a new levy on the ballot this May, in support of the Mad River Local School District. Mad River Schools are putting up a new levy on the ballot after voters turned down the option in November. The Permanent Improvement Levy of 2.9 mills would be used to repair and maintain buildings and equipment. November 2024 Election: Over half of Ohio school levies failed The district says this would replace the previous bond levy that went into effect in 2001 and allowed the construction of new school buildings. 2024 was the last year of payments for those bonds, meaning taxpayers are currently paying less. Officials with the district say that those new buildings in 2001 are now requiring some upkeep. 'While it is great that the bonds were paid off this past year, the district is experiencing large repair and maintenance costs as the age of the building and things that came with the new buildings begin to wear out,' said Jennifer Alexander, with Mad River Local Schools. Alexander says there are several items that need replacing, including the roof on Stebbins High School, air conditioning at Spinning Hills and four elementary buildings all need repairs to the roofing. A Permanent Improvement Levy was previously in place, but was dropped when the Bond Levy began in 2001. Now that the Bond Levy is expired, the district is asking residents to pass this new levy to maintain the buildings they worked hard to establish. 'Our school buildings are pillars of the community and we want to make sure they are safe, well-maintained, and last as long as possible,' said Alexander. Permanent Improvement Levy funds can only be spent on capital improvement and equipment — funds cannot be spent on salaries or other operating expenses. While it is great that the bonds were paid off this past year, the district is experiencing large repair and maintenance costs as the age of the building and things that came with the new buildings begin to wear out. For example, a new roof for Stebbins High School costs $1.7 million. An air conditioner chiller at Spinning Hills will cost $250,000. The four elementary buildings need new shingles for the roof at a cost of $82,000 each. Residents of the district will be able to vote on the levy in the upcoming ballot on May 6, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
