TONTOGANY, Ohio — Otsego community members are concerned about possible job cuts in the school district after voters rejected a levy in the March primary.
Four community members at a school board meeting on Thursday asked the Otsego Local Schools district to refrain from cutting certain positions and clubs on a short list of possible cuts the district might make.
Natasha Bartley has six kids in the district and spoke at the meeting. She was advocating for saving the debate team and the 504/IEP paraprofessional, which she said were on the list of possible cuts.
"I have a daughter that's disabled and she has an IEP," Bartley said. "I wanted to make sure that we're not trying to balance the budget on the backs of kids who are disabled."
Jennifer Asmus, an IEP aid, said she cried after learning her job is on the chopping block.
She too spoke at the meeting to ask the board to keep her job, along with the library paraprofessional and the study hall monitor.
"Sometimes it's those little jobs that really help the children to grow and mature," Asmus said.
School Board President Brad Anderson said the levy hasn't officially failed yet, as the vote tallies are still unofficial election results. The levy could pass upon the final tally, expected on Wednesday.
"500 absentee and provisional votes," Anderson said Thursday of how many votes the Wood County Board of Elections has left to count. "We have absolutely no idea how many were in our district. 19 votes aren't a big hill to climb. But we won't know if it's been climbed."
He said the district is preparing in case the levy doesn't pass.
As for Bartley, she's concerned for the kids in the district.
"I hate that they're worried," she said. "I hear a lot because I have 6 kids, and the students are angry and they're worried."