BELLAIRE The Bellaire Local Board of Education is turning to the voters to help get the district out of fiscal emergency.
The board approved a motion to have a 5-year, 8.72 mills emergency levy on the November General Election ballot, which if approved, it is projected to generate more than $961,000 annually for the district.
In previous attempts, the district tried to get voter approval on separate occasions a 12.9 mills levy, an 8.9 mills levy and a 1-percent income tax all of which were shot down by voters.
According to Superintendent Tony Scott, the district requested a levy certification from the county auditor's office that would generate about $1 million for the district.?Because of increases in property valuations, the district can now generate the funds needed with the smaller emergency levy request.
The district has been in a state declared state of fiscal emergency since December 2009 when the district was unable to find a solution to a projected deficit.
In other news, Scott said the district's preliminary results from state testing. As of now, Scott said the elementary and middle schools are both looking excellent. The high school didn't do as well, but did show an increase in its performance index, jumping from 84 percent to 90 percent. Final results from the tests are expected before the start of the school year.
The board also met in executive session for about 45 minutes to discuss employment of personnel and negotiations.
Following the executive session, the board accepted the resignation of Michelle Johnson, elementary special education teacher for the purpose of retirement, effective Aug. 19, and the resignation of Penny Barnes, middle school head cook, retroactive to May 1.
A "Big Red Kick Off Bash" is scheduled for Aug. 19 from noon to 4 p.m. at West Bellaire Community Center.
The next regular board of education meeting is scheduled for Aug. 7 at 6 p.m.
