The Treasurer’s Office of Olmsted Falls Schools released a summary of documented cost savings that have occurred over the past 12-18 months.

“We are continually seeking ways to stretch taxpayer dollars,” said Treasurer Dale Weber, who joined Olmsted Falls Schools in February 2005. “I am pleased to report that our diligence and ongoing efforts to identify cost-savings measures throughout the District has resulted in a savings of more than $550,000 over the past 12-18 months.”

Documented cost savings include:

• Savings of $36,000 on the purchase of electricity, gasoline and natural gas through participation in the “Energy for Education” Cooperative
• Savings of $8,372 on District’s workers compensation bill through participation, at no cost, in the Lorain County Safety Council which provides participating Districts with a 4% rebate from the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
• Savings of $49,457 on property, liability and fleet insurance coverage through participation in Schools of Ohio Risk Sharing Authority (SORSA)
• Savings of $5,060 as a result of change in e-rate support vendor
• Savings of $8,574 as a result of reduction in external technology support vendor 
•  Savings of $864 from the elimination of pagers, previously utilized by building principals and maintenance staff. 
• Savings of $60,000 from the elimination of four permanent building substitute positions. 
• Savings of $358,082 from changes in personnel, including the elimination of two administrative assistant positions, a home arts teaching position, and an intervention specialist position – all positions which were not refilled upon the retirement of the individuals who held those positions. 
• Savings of $28,000 from the restructuring of select custodial positions. 

In addition to the documented cost savings detailed above, the District also works to secure alternative funding sources to support and enhance educational programming. This year, Olmsted Falls School District applied for and received more than $800,500 in grant dollars to use in a variety of areas including special education, gifted education, technology, drug-free education programs, student wellness programs, and professional development. The District also funds three administrative positions through the use of alternative funding sources (non-Olmsted community tax dollars).

“Every penny the District can save, along with every penny we can secure from non-taxpayer revenue sources, lengthen the time between levy requests,” said Dr. Todd Hoadley, Superintendent of Olmsted Falls Schools. “We have an ethical responsibility to our taxpayers to utilize every dollar in the most efficient and responsible way possible.”

As a result of strict cost controls implemented at every level (from buildings to administration) under the direction of Superintendent Dr. Todd Hoadley, Assistant Superintendent Dave Lewis and Treasurer Dale Weber, an anticipated deficit of $552,460 for the 2005-2006 school year was eliminated and revenues exceeded expenses by $528,527 for the 2005-2006 school year. Current budget projections estimate the District will run out of operational funding in 2010, however the District will have stretched the last operating levy, passed in February 1999 and expected to last until 2006, more than 10 years.

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