With the November 7 election less than three weeks away, the Oxford School Board is making it their goal to get the word out to the community about the 10-year, 18-mill tax renewal that will keep the district’s funding at status quo.
Virginia Brennan-Kyro, Superintendent for Oxford Schools, said at the board’s Oct. 10 meeting that district representatives have or will be speaking at service clubs and government meetings throughout the month about why the renewal is so important for the district.
At last Tuesday’s Oxford Rotary Club meeting, Brennan-Kyro said she and Oxford High School music teacher Jim Gibbons painted a picture for the Rotarians as to how drastic it would be if the millage on non-homestead properties (properties other than a person’s primary residence) were to fail.
?(Jim) told the crowd we have 225 teachers (in the district). Without this millage, we would have to eliminate in excess of 100 of them,? Brennan-Kyro told the board. ‘Obviously, we know we can’t do that.?
Without this millage renewal, the school district would lose $5.4 million in revenue annually, which equals approximately 15 percent of its budget. The millage helps pay for things like supplies, textbooks, salaries, utilities, transportation, etc.
Brennan-Kyro said the Rotarians she spoke with called the renewal a ‘no-brainer,? but still worries that some in the community will have questions and think it’s an increase in their taxes.
‘I think another really important factor is that it’s a renewal, she said. ‘It does not give us additional money.?
District representatives also plan to be at the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce meeting Oct. 19, the Oxford Women’s Club meeting Oct. 25 and at various PTO meetings as well.
To help answer more questions the community may have about the millage, Brennan-Kyro said residents are welcome to attend the steering committee meetings held every Wednesday at Lakeville Elementary at 7 p.m.
Each principal in the district and the Board of Education office also has brochures containing information on each of the nine proposals on the ballot. Information on the election is also available on the district’s website, www.oxford.k12.mi.us.
‘We need each person in our district and our community working to understand what this is and then get them out to the polls,? Brennan-Kyro said. ‘I’m receiving very positive feedback, but I’ll be nervous until those polls close on election day.?