Mentor board advances reduced levy plan after $6.6M in cuts; consolidation and further $3.5M options discussed

After the voucher discussion, the Mentor Exempted Village School District turned to finances for the remainder of its May 26 special session. Administrators reviewed previously proposed reductions and new savings, then offered two alternative strategies to deepen recurring savings so the district could ask voters for a smaller levy later in the year.

Treasurer and administrative staff reported they had already identified roughly $5.9 million in reductions at the May meeting and found an additional $700,000 in cost savings since then, bringing the agreed baseline reductions to about $6.6 million for fiscal year 2027. Those cuts include administrative reductions, certified and classified staffing adjustments, department budget trims and changes to pay‑to‑play fees. Staff also outlined transportation policy changes (increasing the high‑school walk zone to two miles) as a way to capture further savings while limiting negative effects on attendance.

Looking beyond the baseline, staff presented two options to secure additional recurring savings of roughly $3.2–$3.5 million. Option A would be a targeted reduction package of about $3.4M that would remove approximately 30 certified and 19 classified positions plus a couple of administrative roles, increasing typical K–3 class sizes toward 25–26 and middle/high school sizes toward the high‑20s. Option B would pursue building consolidation and grade‑reconfiguration (closing/merging several elementary schools and shifting grade bands) to generate roughly $3.2–$3.3M in recurring savings, plus operational efficiencies on utilities and transportation; board members and staff noted consolidation would require a strategic multi‑year rollout, potential redistricting and substantial community engagement.

To lessen the levy ask and respond to public feedback after a recent defeat, administrators recommended a smaller November levy: a 5‑year, 3.5‑mill proposal estimated to cost $123 per $100,000 of assessed value. The board voted to have staff prepare a resolution and public engagement plan for that levy and to present details at the June meeting, with additional public comment opportunities in June and July and final filing deadlines in early August. The motion to prepare the levy resolution passed on a roll call with a majority supporting draft placement and community outreach.

What’s next: staff will provide more detailed breakdowns of the proposed $3.5M reduction options and a clearer consolidation plan for board and public review prior to any final vote to place a levy on the ballot.