Superintendent: Before Another Levy, We Need to Listen

Fresh off an Westlake Superintendent Dr. Dan Keenan said before the board decides whether to try again to pass a levy in November, district leaders need to listen and reflect on the community’s thoughts.

“We won’t put one on in August; that deadline has passed,” Keenan said. “Before we do anything we need to get input and figure out what we need to learn from this vote.”

Westlake residents voted 3096 to 3049 against the 5.9-mill continuing levy on May 7.  As of Election Day, there were still 44 provisional votes outstanding that had to be counted. That may trigger an automatic recount.

“We need to survey the community and understand what we need to do differently,” Keenan said. “It is ‘how we operate’ or ‘how we are providing?’”

Keenan said the schools involve the entire community and now it was time “to sit back and listen.”

“I’m not sure what we’re going to do,” Keenan said about placing another levy on the November ballot.

At tonight’s Keenan will begin addressing cuts that are now going to have to be instituted regardless of whether another ballot issue is proposed for the 2013 General Election.

“We need to make $1 million of cuts for next year’s budget,” he said.

He said a formal recommendation for another levy, if that is the option, will most likely not happen for a few months. Formal cuts will be proposed to the board at the June 10 meeting.

“It will probably be awhile,” he said before a decision is made on another levy. The board has until early August to submit a request to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections to have an issue added to the November ballot.

“Do we put on another levy or make cuts?” he asked. “If you don’t increase revenues, there will have to be cuts. Without a levy, we’ll have to make greater reductions past the $1 million.”

Keenan said he would use the lesson that Westlake students are taught.

“We say to students, we need to learn from failures,” he said.
If we want to continue to strive for excellence, we need to reflect on it, build on it and learn from it,” he said. “That’s how you get to excellence.”

He expressed thanks to those who voted for the levy.

“I’m extremely appreciative of those who supported the levy,” but recognizes the levy failed. “We’re responding to this as an indication that people want further adjustments.”