Board of Education Seeking Feedback on Future of Oakwood Schools; Meeting Set for Jan
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January 10, 2018 THE OAKWOOD REGISTER www.oakwoodregister.com Vol. 27, No. 1 January 10, 2018 Board of Education seeking feedback on future of Oakwood schools; meeting set for Jan. 16 What will Oakwood schools cost of $73 million over the next up,” Ramey said. “There are all look like in 20 or 30 years? That’s 20 years, build new structures at a kinds of places we can go with a question district officials hope cost projected to exceed $80 mil- this, but what we do have is a very to answer as part of the district’s lion, or some combination of both. good plan to develop a plan, and ongoing effort to craft a Master Other questions being put I think that is an important first Facilities Plan that will shape city to residents in a series of pub- piece.” schools for the next half century lic forums – the next meeting is Among other things, the com- or longer. scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, munity is being asked if residents Starting with a comprehensive Jan. 16, in the Oakwood High would support partial or full dem- assessment of existing classroom School auditorium – address sce- olition of existing school buildings space and school facilities, the narios ranging from construction to develop new facilities. district’s Master Facility Plan will of a single, combined pre-K to 12 “We intentionally asked those ultimately serve as a “road map” campus in Oakwood, to a school- questions to be unsettling,” Ramey of sorts as Oakwood City Schools based community wellness center added. “We knew there would be look to the next generation of pub- and whether high school football some visceral responses. That’s lic school structures, students and should remain at Mack Hummon appropriate and natural anytime technologies. Field or move to the newly con- you talk about the possibility of While Oakwood schools stand structed Lane Stadium. changing beautiful facilities and as architectural cornerstones of the Oakwood Schools things that have been a part of community, and hallowed halls for Superintendent Dr. Kyle Ramey the community for such a long generations of alumni, everything stressed that the district is enter- time. Part of our responsibility as a is on the table as district adminis- ing the process of formulating a board of education is to ask those trators seek input from ratepayers, master facilities plan with no pre- tough questions and be willing to parents and students on what city conceived agenda, adding that the listen to all points of view. Then, residents want Oakwood schools questions – some of which he at some point in the future, we will to look like in 2040 or 2050. acknowledges may cause concern make a decision based on all of The overarching question in the community – are intended that input. We knew what we were before city taxpayers is whether to solely to start a no-holds-barred doing in putting those questions keep the four existing, sometimes conversation about the long-term out there, with no agenda, no deci- century-old structures – Lange future of Oakwood schools. sions being made in advance, to School, E.D. Smith Elementary, “This is a very deliberate, well simply start the conversation and Harman School and the combined thought out process, and we hav- get people talking.” Oakwood junior and senior high en’t made any decisions. We don’t “We purposely poked the bear to school buildings – at an estimated have any idea where it will end u See BOE on page 18 E.D. Smith Elementary School City reduces income tax credit for out-of-town workers By a unanimous 5-0 vote City beginning in 2018. loss of nearly $800,000 a year in collections for the city, said Vice son pays taxes where they work, Council last week approved an The income tax credit reduc- Oakwood tax collections, city offi- Mayor Steve Byington. that amount is credited against ordinance reducing the income tax tion, which was approved by City cials note. Previously, Oakwood “In Ohio, residents pay local the taxes they owe the city of credit for Oakwood residents who Council on Tuesday, Jan. 4, comes gave residents working out of town income tax where they work and Oakwood.” pay income tax in other munici- in response to declining local reve- full credit for income taxes paid to where they live,” Byington said With passage of the measure palities. The measure imposes a nues as surrounding municipalities other jurisdictions. With adoption in introducing the legislation. Byington said residents who work tax credit reduction factor of 0.9 increase their tax rates. Over the of the new tax plan, all Oakwood “Oakwood currently gives resi- outside the city will see “a slight and caps the maximum income past decade, 24 cities have hiked residents will owe the city income dents a tax credit for all local reduction of their credit, but they tax credit for Oakwood residents income tax rates in Ohio, including taxes of at least one-quarter of income taxes paid elsewhere, up will still get 90 percent of the cred- paying taxes in other municipali- Dayton, Centerville and Moraine, one percent, which is projected to to the full amount of Oakwood’s it they’ve always received.” ties at two and one-quarter percent which has resulted in an annual generate $600,000 in annual tax 2.5 percent income tax. If a per- See Tax on page 2 u 2 THE OAKWOOD REGISTER January 10, 2018 Weiskircher ends 35-year tenure with Oakwood Emotions were running high on part-time employees. And he has “I’ve spent a lot of my time both sides of the dais as Assistant had a hand in virtually every sig- trying to keep Oakwood special,” City Manager Jay Weiskircher nificant improvement to the city he added. “You have to be care- made his final appearance before that has occurred over the course ful about maintaining history, but Oakwood City Council on Jan. of his career – from the establish- you also have to move forward. 4, where he was honored with a ment of the Oakwood Community There’s a delicate balance there formal ordinance recognizing his Center and the acquisition of the and I’ve never forgotten how diffi- more than 35 years of service to Old River athletic fields and Sugar cult it is to keep that.” the community. Camp, to the recent construction “During his 35 years on Weiskircher, who grew up out- of Lane Stadium. In addition, he Oakwood staff, Jay demonstrated side of Pittsburgh before earning was responsible for negotiating an unmatched sense of duty and a political science degree from all of the city’s labor contracts personal integrity, and served the the University of Pittsburgh, began with four bargaining units repre- citizens and businesses of Oakwood his career with Oakwood in April senting Oakwood’s public safety with the utmost distinction. He 1982, shortly after earning his officers, dispatchers, and public worked tirelessly to maintain and master’s degree in public admin- works employees, encompassing enhance the wonderful attributes istration from the University of two-thirds of the city’s workforce. of our city,” said Oakwood City Cincinnati in March of that year. “I’ve tried to be a voice of mod- Manager Norb Klopsch. “Jay He marked his final day at the City eration and I’ve tried to understand exceled in everything he did and Building on Dec. 29. both sides,” Weiskircher said of represented Oakwood with the “Fortunately, the position was his role in handling both labor Assistant City Manager Jay Weiskircher ended his 35-year career highest degree of professionalism. with the city on Dec. 29. available here at the time I was relations and land use issues in We will always remember Jay for graduating,” Weiskircher recalled. the city, which he characterized as zoning and planning, including the Weiskircher praised the succes- his strong work ethic, deep under- “This was literally my first and “always contentious.” much disputed Pointe Oakwood sive city councils he worked with, standing of governmental issues, has been my only job. That’s very “I tried to be a mediator and a development, but he drew univer- noting that “political party affilia- and his ability to apply calm and unusual, especially in this profes- good listener,” he added. “I under- sal praise on his retirement, even tions have never entered into the reasoned judgment even in the sion.” stand where neighbors come from from those who sat across the table decision making in Oakwood.” most challenging situations.” He was originally hired as assis- in terms of change, and a lot of from him during some difficult “The elected officials here have As he heads off toward more time tant to the city manager and recre- people are very uncomfortable negotiations. been wonderful,” he added. “These on the golf course, Weiskircher ation director, working for three with change. By the same token, if “I’ve always tried to conduct folks are here because they want said he is “very optimistic” about city managers – Dave Foell, Mike Oakwood is going to survive and myself with professionalism and to give back to the community. the city’s future. “God blessed Kelly and Norb Klopsch – and six prosper, we’ve got to have some integrity,” he reflected. “I think All the decisions that are made by me bringing me to Oakwood,” he mayors over the course of his more changes. We’ve tried over the people respect that. They may not council are what they truly feel is said at the end of his career.