District-wide Events and News

Friday, February 21, 2025

Dear Avon Lake City Schools Community,

The local media continues to help advance the various causes important to public education, particularly in light of budget proposals taking place in Columbus at the moment. District leadership will take advantage of these opportunities to inform and affirm the funding needs we have when possible, and I encourage you to view the story that ran on WJW’s Fox-8 News recently, about the challenges confronting Avon Lake City Schools, and others. Please see below.

Members of the Avon Lake City Schools administrative team recently took the opportunity to meet our statewide representatives at the Ohio State House, to discuss important funding matters along with other educational nuances facing public schools. ALCS team members Ned Lauver, Katrina Muzingo, and Maria Gingo comprised the small delegation intent on sharing viewpoints on current student needs relative to the proposed budget bill. Legislation regarding the Fair School Funding Plan was part of the discussion, and a meaningful dialogue with Representative Joe Miller and State Senator Nathan Manning took place. In all, time spent with our local elected officials, exchanging perspectives on their actions that impact our district and others, proved to be a worthwhile endeavor. Thank you to our elected leaders for taking the time to meet with our team.

Those in attendance on Monday evening’s one-of-a-kind, truly incredible community event featuring the basketball theatrics of the Harlem Wizards are likely still compelled with amazement and awe. In an evening of community pride, joyful wonder, and friendly competitiveness, the Wizards played against a basketball team comprised of Avon Lake teachers, our Community All-Stars team competed, and many businesses and stakeholders became involved. Thank you to the leadership efforts of those who organized and successfully coordinated the event in bringing a major spotlight on our school district. Great job to all!

The Board of Education and district leaders have been working to finalize the reductions that will impact the Avon Lake City Schools, and the chart below provides a summary of those intentions. Our aim has been to share the finalized list of reductions by March 1st, 2025, and that information will be posted as intended with as much detail as possible.

Please be aware that the ALCS is preparing for and planning a ceremony associated with various activities to appropriately and tastefully commemorate the closure of Erieview effective at the end of this school year. We recognize that such a building closure prompts emotions, and our intention is to give the building and its legacy in our community its proper moment for everyone to celebrate. Tours, memorabilia displays, and activities are being finalized right now, and district leaders have every intention to honor this building and all those who, as a student, staff member, or community member, hold a deep connection to Erieview. More to come in the near future.

The coffee chats hosted throughout the late summer and fall proved to be an appropriate and informal way to communicate important information to interested citizens about the ALCS. Consequently, another series of similarly formatted Coffee Talks with me and members of the administrative team are planned for the first Thursday of each month, March through May, at The Kitchen on Walker Road. We thank their establishment for serving as our gracious hosts and encourage you all to attend. Please get informed on Issues 16 and 17.

Finally, please keep in mind that the ALCS has two issues on the May 2025 ballot. Issue 16 will be the bond issue that goes toward the new construction of a Grade 5 through 8 building at the Learwood location and to make repairs at the three elementary buildings. Issue 16 requests $88,085,000 and would cost taxpayers $96 per year for each $100,000 of county auditor appraised home value. Issue 17 will be the operating levy for the purpose of general operating expenses, would generate $3 million annually, and would cost taxpayers $69 per year for each $100,000 of county auditor appraised home value. Combined, if passed, Issue 16 and Issue 17 would cost Avon Lake taxpayers $165 per year for each $100,000 of county auditor appraised home value. Please stay tuned for more updates regarding our May ballot issues in the future.

Don’t forget Take Back Togetherness Night on Wednesday, March 19th! Have a safe and enjoyable weekend, and please stay safe and warm!

Sincerely,

Joelle M. Magyar
Superintendent of Schools

March 6 - Early Release for Students

March 7 - Conference Day (No School for Students)
March 10 - No School for Students

March 19 - Take Back Togetherness Night
March 28 - End of Third Quarter

To view the complete district calendar, click here.

Just in case you missed a newsletter from your child's school, or have multiple children in our district at different buildings, we have links below from each building principal for your convenience with the most recent information sent to families. A link to our quarterly District Facility Focus newsletter is also below.

Avon Lake High School

Learwood Middle School

Troy Intermediate School

Eastview Elementary School

Erieview Elementary School

Redwood Elementary School

Westview Elementary School

LEAPS Preschool

Facility Focus