School Days

Revere F.A.C.T.S. Will Go On After Levy Victory

Group will to continue to monitor district for future financial needs, but won't endorse candidates.

Families and Communities Together for Schools -- also known as F.A.C.T.S. --banded together late last year after Revere Local Schools failed on a second try to pass a levy. But after that levy passed, by a margin of about 500 votes, in the spring election, the group is staying banded together. Dave Gifford, president of the group, said F.A.C.T.S  was founded to maintain excellence in Revere by passing levies vital to the district. He said levies need renewed, and in the future there may be new bond projects or levies the group could throw its support behind. “It makes sense to keep ourselves together as a group,” Gifford said, rather than disbanding and coming back together when another issue arises. However, Gifford said, the group will …

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Revere Levy Passes on Third Try

School operating levy prevails in close contest. Anti levy group still wants new members on school board in November.

Musketeers Bar & Grill in Richfield was filled with members of the Revere school community and pro-levy group Families and Community Together for Schools. Their voices drowned out the music and people huddled around computers and phones as election results were updated on-line or text-messaged in by other members. A cheer went up after the unofficial result showed that, on the third try in a year, the school property tax levy had passed. “We got this one!” Dave Gifford, president of F.A.C.T.S, told supporters. Hugs were exchanged and chants of “We are Revere!” filled the room. The election result will garner the district more than $4.7 million a year in funds. The Summit County Board of Election website confirmed the vote, including …

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School Days

Revere School Levy Vote is Tuesday

Tax levy issue comes to vote third time, fourth planned if effort fails.

Months of work by people both for and against a new tax levy to raise funds for Revere Local Schools will culminate Tuesday when voters go to the polls to decide the issue for a third time. Mailings and advertisements in the past week have advocated the merits for and against the tax increase. About 800 pro-levy yard signs have been planted around the community, according to superintendent Randy Boroff. The levy would raise an additional $4,763,000 a year for the district. Larry Chlebina, treasurer for the anti-levy group Citizens for Responsible School Administration, has charged the district with improperly managing its financial assets, calling the district’s financials “disingenuous.” Chlebina also wants to replace members of the …

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School Days

Revere Levy Looms

District trying to pass tax increase for third time.

A familiar question is hanging over the Revere Local Schools community and the residents who pay property taxes. On May 3, they will decide, again, whether or not to pass a tax levy for additional funds to the school district, a 10-year, 4.83 mill emergency operating levy that would raise about $4,763,000 a year. Opponents of the tax increase have charged the district with poor financial management and want to bring new members to the school board. Superintendent Randy Boroff said a tax levy  is the only way for a district to increase revenue. If the levy fails, the district will have to reduce personnel, programs and services. “It will impact every aspect of the school district,” he said. The district already has made plans to lay off 34 …

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OPINION: Vote Yes On Revere Schools Levy

Family and Community Together for Schools

As you know, May 3 is a critical date, not only for our schools, but our community. Revere’s emergency levy on the ballot would be the first new funding approved for our district in 10 years and is critical to its continued success. Revere is one of only 18 schools in the state to receive an "Excellent" rating 11 years in a row, but now faces a tough economic situation that puts its long-standing tradition of success in jeopardy. Because of the recently announced cuts in the state's budget, Revere stands to lose more than $3 million a year in state funding. The levy opposition group has not included this in its financial estimates. Additionally, they incorporate revenue growth for Revere as the economy improves, but in actuality revenue …

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Voters Approve Renewal Levy for Revere Local Schools

Three-quarters of voters support measure.

For the first time in more than a year, Revere Schools have had success at the polls. Voters passed a 4.56-mill renewal levy. Of 3,062 ballots cast, only 772 voted against it. There are 14,926 registered voters in the district.  Dave Gifford, president of the pro-levy group F.A.C.T.S. (Families and Community Together for Schools), said 57 members of his group made 1,650 calls in the days before the vote.  "Only 40 to 50 percent of parents voted last time," Gifford said. "We wanted to make sure everyone knew about the special election." In the past, Revere levy proponents have faced organized opposition from another local group Citizens for Responsible School Administration, and two tries for new money were defeated by voters last year.  …

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Revere School Officials Make Pitch for Levy

Superintendent says district has made every cut it can.

For the first time in more than a year, Revere Schools Superintendent Randy Boroff has no organized opposition to his campaign to pass a levy. Maybe that's why Boroff seemed pretty comfortable delivering this straightforward assessment of his school's financial situation before a small crowd in the large high school auditorium.  "We can't do it any other way but through excess taxes." The "it" Boroff is talking about is keeping the Revere School District running with passage of a renewal levy on the Feb. 8 ballot that will generate $4.56 million annually. The renewal would cost residents $128.27 a year for every $100,000 of property value. It's a compromise measure that  -- even if passed -- will leave the schools with a $1.4 million …

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