Streetsboro Schools Face Drastic Cuts as May Levy Hangs in the Balance
Streetsboro, Ohio — The Streetsboro City School District is at a crossroads. Last fall, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce placed 45 school districts, including Streetsboro, under fiscal precaution status—a designation that mandates immediate action to address long-term financial instability. For Streetsboro, the stakes are particularly high: if a critical school levy proposal fails in May, the district plans to eliminate all middle school, freshman, and junior varsity sports programs.
A Community on Edge
The potential cuts have left parents, students, and educators bracing for impact. For Sara Jonas, a mother of two children in the district, the decision could upend her family’s daily life. “My son plays soccer, basketball, and baseball. My daughter cheers and just made the middle school team,” Jonas shared. “We’re really hopeful there’s a middle school team next year.”
Jonas isn’t alone in her concern. Many parents see sports and extracurricular activities as vital to their children’s development—not just for the skills they teach but for the opportunities they create. “These are things kids put on college applications, job applications,” Jonas explained. “It’s about more than just learning leadership and discipline. It’s about building futures.”
The Financial Strain
Superintendent Cynthia Deevers emphasized that the proposed cuts are a last resort to preserve academic programs. “Our school board is dedicated to limiting the impact on academics for as long as possible,” Deevers said. Athletics, while important, represent a budgetary area that can be trimmed without directly affecting classroom instruction.
The May levy seeks to generate $5.4 million annually over five years, with property owners paying $245 yearly per $100,000 of home value. Deevers explained that the district has reached a breaking point. “Our income from property taxes hasn’t increased, but our costs have,” she noted. “We’re at a place where we can’t account for the difference anymore.”
This financial dilemma isn’t unique to Streetsboro. Across Ohio, school districts are grappling with similar challenges. Deevers pointed out that Ohio’s funding model—reliant on property and income taxes—leaves districts vulnerable when costs outpace revenue. “We’re not alone in this,” she said. “Many districts are dealing with these same issues right now.”
A History of Failed Levies
Streetsboro’s financial woes are compounded by its recent history of unsuccessful levy attempts. Voters rejected proposals in both May and November of 2025, leaving the district scrambling to bridge its $1 million budget shortfall. Jonas understands the hesitation. “There are people in our community who are pinched, like so many across the country,” she said. “We’re asking for additional funding, and I get why that’s hard.”
Still, Jonas remains optimistic. She hopes the community will rally to support the levy, ensuring that students like her children can continue to thrive both academically and athletically. “We want these kids to go to college, trade school, or wherever their dreams take them,” she said. “Then we want them to come back and be a part of Streetsboro’s growth.”
What’s Next?
As May approaches, the decision rests with Streetsboro voters. A successful levy would provide much-needed financial relief, preserving extracurricular programs and preventing further cuts. A rejection, however, would force the district to make difficult choices, leaving families like the Jonas’s to navigate the fallout.
The outcome will not only shape the future of Streetsboro’s schools but also determine the opportunities available to its students. For Sara Jonas, the stakes couldn’t be higher: “I’m really hoping our community will come together to support the schools—and the future of Streetsboro.”
— Reported by Nexio News
