The Kings Board of Education has placed a 6.4mill Operating Levy on the November 8, 2022, ballot. This is an important ballot issue for the Kings Local School District. Currently, the District is under fiscal oversight by the Ohio Department of Education due to our declining fund balance.  

This week we would like to alleviate any confusion our Kings voters may have regarding the election ballot. It has been brought to our attention that the ballot language is confusing.

The levy will generate $7.5 million per year to support the day-to-day operations of the District. It will cost the Kings taxpayer $18.67 per month for every $100,000 of true home value. 

The ballot language states:  An additional tax for the benefit of Kings Local School District, for the purpose of current expenses at a rate not exceeding 6.4 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.64 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.

This is considered standard levy language. However, in Ohio, residential real estate is taxed at 35% of the true value. So, the taxable value of any parcel is 35% of its true value. Based on the ballot language, see below how to calculate your taxes in simple math.

If you have $100,000 of true home value, you are only taxed on 35% which comes to $35,000. We are taxed on each one hundred dollars of value, which, in this case is $350. The 6.4 mill tax rate for each $100 of valuation would be $224.

$350 x $.64 = $224

The average home in Kings is $250,000. The cost to the median homeowner would be $560 annually or $46.67  monthly. The tax rate will decrease over time if home values continue to rise in the Kings District. 

Use this easy levy calculator to calculate what this levy will cost you.

The Kings budget is projected to have a negative cash balance by 2024. Based on the current Ohio School Funding model, revenues for Kings are not going to increase. In order to continue running the school district with a positive cash balance, as required by law, Kings either needs to pass an operating levy on November 8 or make significant, personnel, student programs, and service reductions. The District's expenses are projected to be higher than income next school year by $7 million. Without new revenue, reductions will need to be made to balance the budget. 

In case you missed it, Kings Superintendent, Greg Sears presented to the Kings Board of Education in a Special Meeting on Monday, October 10, to discuss the $7 million in reductions that will need to happen if the levy does not pass.

Community members are encouraged to visit our Levy FAQ page to learn more. We will continue to add questions to this page as we receive them. 

If you would like to learn more about the Operating Levy, please contact Kings Treasurer Mike Morrow at mmorrow@kingslocal.net. 

A note from Kings Transportation Supervisor, Doug Turner

October 17-21 is School Bus Safety Week. I would like to thank all parents for the fantastic job you are doing to keep our children safe. Ohio school buses transport more than 800,000 students and are traveling nearly 1 million miles each day. 

Take this opportunity to review all School Bus procedures with your children.

Below are some safety areas to review: 

• Students should be waiting at the designated place of safety before the school bus arrives. They should not be waiting in the vehicle or in the house. 
• Students are to wait for the school bus drivers hand signal both left and right side to approach the school bus. 
• Talk to your children about defensive walking. Remind them to check traffic before exiting the bus. Walk on sidewalks, stop, and look right and left before crossing the street, driveways, and alleyways. 
• Remind students they are not to use Cell phones or other electronic devices while walking to the bus, boarding, or departing the school bus. Headphones, Air Pods, or similar devices are to be removed.

Fun Facts from Kings Transportation

How many routes are traveled daily? 46

How many employees are in Kings Transportation? 

• 40 drivers
• 3 mechanics
• 4 substitutes
• 9 trainees

How many miles are driven? Every driver averages 54 miles per route.

Kings Transportation is still looking to employ 10 drivers. Please contact Doug Turner at dturner@kingslocal.net.

Thank you to all of our Kings Bus Drivers for all you do!

Kings High School National Spanish Honor Society (La Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica) inducted their first class in 2016 and have continuously inducted at least 40 students each year since, except for during the pandemic in 2020.

On Thursday, October 20, 59 new members were inducted in a special ceremony at Kings High School. The SNHS now has 96 members total.

In order to be inducted, students have to be a junior or senior, maintain a 3.5 GPA overall, as well as in Spanish specifically. All members must be currently enrolled in either Spanish 3, 4, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, or have already taken and passed the AP test and class. Some of these students have been identified nationally as bilingual and bi-literate. By taking their oath, the students have made a commitment to continue their involvement with Spanish and service over the next year or two. 

The Spanish NHS advisers are Lindsay Six and Valerie Eldridge.

Congratulations (Felicidades) to the following students:

Alissa Anderson, Raquel Anderson, Abbie Arnold, Kenzie Beck, Meredith Bodley, Seth Broaddrick, Julia Burke, Megan Burke, Elijah Cabrera, Sophia Canino, Lauren Carstens, Sara Clark, Cameron Cooke, Peyton Dickerson , Jessica Earle, Alexa Escamilla, Brayden Faulkner, Claudia Fay, Elijah Fladung, Diane Frecker, Cate Freeman, Braden Gause, Lilly Gautraud, Katie Gibson, Robert Giller, Lucy Gonzalez, Amanda Gostel, Diana Grijalba, Aaron Groff, Maddie Guibord, Sophie Guibord, Maura (Corazón) Hart, Madeline Hartke, Estrella (Dakota) Henry, Mac Hiegl, Andrew Horton, Gabby Hosey, Haylee Howes, Nick Hoying, Masha Ivanova, Grace Jones, Nozima Jurahonova, Navaneethakrishnan Kanushi, Matt Karb, Nidhi Karnati, Kayley Knollman, Anna Lacey, Zoe Lenney, Emily Lynch, Rayhona Mamayusufova, Nicole (Alma) Mattson, Diego Medina, Anyi Metzger, Zach Molfenter, Bella Musolino, Melissa Mwaur, Beckham Najem, Kaitlyn Niebauer, Natalie Norgren, Davin O’Maley, Audrey O’Rourke, Jaclyn Oen, Nelly Ortiz, Keren Palaparty, Madan Parker, Carson Pieper, Hannah Prater, Samantha Rajauskas, Sofia Rashty, Evan Reppeto, Mali Robinson, Charlotte Roe, Owen Russell, Kaitlyn Schimanski, McKailyn Schuckman, Grace Sims, Avery Smith, Katelyn Smith, Alexandra Spoelker, Brendan Stock, Ethan Streckfuss, Lucy Taylor, Cooper Tinsley, Maria Tormos, Jax Tran, Abby Trapp, Rylee Tudor, Elizabeth Vue, Kara Wagner, Rosa Waimin, Pablo Waimin, Sam Webster, Ella Wilson, Allison Wise, Claudia Witter, and Abby Yoder.

Kings Preschool held their annual Literacy Night & Scholastic Book Fair on Wednesday, October 19. This annual night returned for the first time since 2019.

Students and their families were invited to participate in hands-on activities, sign-up for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, and bring a book-themed pumpkin from home. Kings Preschool teacher Theresa Frazier said, "It was a beautiful fall evening filled with learning and fun!" 

Kings High School Senior Golfer, Garrett Hogan was given a special sendoff on Thursday, October 20 as he headed to Columbus, Ohio for the OHSAA State Golf Champtionship.

Garrett is the first Kings golfer in nearly 20 years to qualify for State! Keep an eye on the Kings social media for updates on his progress.

Click here to watch the Walk of Champions. 

Kings Junior High recently held a Food Drive as part of their PACT Week celebration. The staff and students collected 1719 items to donate to the Kings Local Food Pantry. 

KJH Food Drive organizer and teacher Diane Bigelow said, "What a pleasure it is to be part of a learning community that supports each other! Thanks for your continued generosity!"

Pictured is Mrs. Bigelow dropping off the donations at the Pantry.

For the past two years, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has provided waivers to Child Nutrition Programs across the United States, allowing these programs to offer all students breakfast and lunch meals at no charge, regardless of income status. This waiver has expired. To be eligible for meal assistance, families must complete an application.

Please click on this link below to complete your application today!

Kings Local School Food Service Department is committed to assisting our students and families. Please contact Jennifer S. Arlinghaus, R.D., L.D., Food Service Director at (513) 398-8050, ext. 10027 if you have any questions.

Board Members

Kings Board of Education (L-R): John Skerl, Board Member; Janelle Groff, Board Member; Peggy Phillips, Board Member; Deb Cowan, Vice-President; and Stacie Belfrom, President.

The Board of Education meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month for a Work Session at 5:30 p.m. and the 3rd Tuesday of every month for a Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.

2022 Board Meeting - Agendas & Minutes

2022 Board Meeting Recordings

All meetings are live-streamed on the Kings Youtube channel.

KJH collected 1719 items to Kings Local Food Pantry. What a pleasure it is to be part of a learning community that supports each other! Thanks for your continued generosity!

In an effort to be "green," the District does not send paper flyers home. We use a platform called Peachjar that houses flyers of community programs and resources. 

Parents receive approved flyers via email, and they are posted on our digital flyerboard for easy retrieval. Any organization can distribute information to our community by creating an account!

If you aren't following Kings Athletics on Facebook and Twitter, or Instagram you're missing out on some of the great things our student-athletes are doing!

Like and follow them today!