As we approach the upcoming levy, we know our community has important questions. To help provide clear and accurate information, we’ll be sharing a “Question of the Week”. Each week, we’ll highlight one common question and provide straightforward answers so that families, staff, and community members can stay informed and engaged throughout this process.
September 8th, 2025
Q: Did you know that Chillicothe City School District is placing an emergency levy on the November Ballot?
A: After careful consideration, The Chillicothe City School Board of Education has voted and approved to place an emergency levy on the November 4th Ballot. As we plan for the future, we face rising costs that exceed the state funding we receive to support our students. Ohio Law does not automatically increase funding for schools to match inflation or growth, which means local communities must make decisions about how to sustain and strengthen their schools.
September 15th, 2025
Q: How much will the levy cost me?
A: The proposed millage would generate $2.74 million, which is the same amount approved in 2013. You can use the Levy Cost Calculator on our Levy FAQ page to determine the approximate cost to you.
September 22nd, 2025
Q: Why do CCSD students require additional support services that cost the district increased funding?
A: As many adolescents and teenagers have been experiencing increased depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues, so have the students attending the CCSD. Daily attendance for all students is crucial to their ability to achieve at least a year's growth in achievement year-over-year.
Post-pandemic students attending CCSD are experiencing a mental health crisis at an alarming rate. The district provides additional support in the form of licensed clinical mental health counselors, licensed social workers, and behavioral health specialists. There are approximately 2,700 students in the district, and more than a third of our students benefit from the services mentioned above, so they can stay in school and perform. Without these services, our students experience behaviors and mental health crises that make it nearly impossible for them to learn while they are in school. Making these services available allows us to continue to meet the needs of our students that they may not otherwise get, thus allowing them to remain in school.
September 29th, 2025
Q: What steps has the district taken to address the declining funds to support the budget?
A: After the state and federal funding for educating students during the pandemic ended in 2024, the district took the following steps to reduce expenses by over $2.5 million.
1. The district eliminated its online schooling option that provided instructional support.
2. Significantly reduced staffing through attrition, which resulted in a reduction of teachers, administrators, secretaries, paraprofessionals, literacy coaches, and reading specialists.
3. Reduced education contracts with alternative schools for our most challenging students who were placed out of the district and returned them to our buildings.
4. Redistributed contract services to existing administrators and personnel, such as chronic attendance tracking and hearings, data analytics, and staff evaluations.
5. Reduced supplies and material funding for classrooms.
6. Reduced spending on capital improvements that weren't a necessity this school year.
The district continues to evaluate all expenses, and the necessity to fill jobs that are vacated due to a resignation or retirement throughout this school year.
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If you have additional questions, please contact the District Office at (740)775-4250.
For a chance for your question to be featured as "Question of the Week", please email Superintendent Deborah Swinehart at deborah.swinehart@ccsd.us, or Treasurer Nicholas Overly at nick.overly@ccsd.us.
Note: Not all submitted questions will be featured as the "Question of the Week." All questions will be answered, whether they are featured or not, but responses may take longer than the typical 24-hour period. We appreciate your patience!
*This article is updated weekly*
Levy FAQ Page: https://www.ccsd.us/o/ccs/page/levy-faq