The Oak Harbor School Board unanimously approved asking voters to support a levy to collect $7.35 million at a meeting Monday evening. This proposal will be presented to voters in February 2013.

As the board members supported the larger of two levy rates they discussed at the meeting, the audience gave them a standing ovation.

Superintendent Rick Schulte estimated the rate at $1.98 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, but since he’s working with estimates, the rate could be as low as $1.80 or higher than $2 as assessed valuation changes over time.

The current levy rate is 92 cents. At the April 30 meeting, the board considered proposing a levy rate of $1.83 but decided to raise it Monday to further support special education.

“I think that’s what citizens and taxpayers want. They don’t want the cheapest, they want value for their dollar,” Schulte said. “I’m as worried about passing too small of a levy as not passing too large of a levy.”

One of the easiest issues to cut from the levy proposal was all-day, everyday kindergarten because Schulte emphasized that this is a needs-based levy, meaning it wouldn’t be right to add an entirely new program to the school district.

Instead, the levy focuses on restoring some of the cuts due to recent state and federal funding cuts.

The school board chose to increase the levy by $500,000, approximately 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, from the draft levy proposal they discussed at the April 30 meeting to better fund special education.

“We have the broadest spectrum of needs among our students that any district could have,” Schulte said of students in special education programs.

At community forums held to discuss the levy over the past few months, staff and parents asking for special education funding outnumbered those speaking on any other issue.

If passed, the levy funding will add back the 30 minutes cut from middle school days, restore 10 teaching positions and restore three instructional assistants. Some of those positions can be used for special education and libraries.

The levy would add a licensed practical nurse position. While the three school nurses asked for another registered nurse, which would be more expensive, Corey Johnson, board president, called this a “reasonable compromise.”

The levy would restore the activity bus and after-school tutoring, as well as protect sports and other after-school activities.

“We’re getting to the point where we’re going to have to cut individual sports,” Schulte said, naming golf and swimming, among others, if a levy isn’t passed.

The levy would restore nine maintenance, grounds, custodial and clerical staff positions, as well as fund regular supplies, equipment and maintenance. It would also help alleviate the need for new textbooks and technology.

Never before has Schulte seen such an outpouring of parents and staff at the recent levy forums, or seen such support from staff. They were arguing for their students and classrooms, not for their pocketbooks, Schulte said.

While he said he has no idea if the levy will pass, “By all means, this should pass,” Schulte said, because the district is asking for less than their full need and he’s heard from the community that they want to give the district what they need.

Peter Hunt, school board member, said he’s optimistic about asking for this amount.

“The community is telling us to go for it,” said Christine Cribb, school board member, based on speaking to approximately 50 people about the levy throughout the week.

Johnson considered asking for more funding to support librarians.

“I think that’s one group we don’t want to have demoralized, we want to adequately take care of,” Johnson said.

However, Schulte said the list of needs could go on forever and some areas have more need than librarians.

“I think it’s going to be cutting up the pie differently rather than a bigger pie,” Schulte said, adding that instructional assistant positions restored by the levy could be used to support librarians.

After relieved smiles and applause following the board’s decision, Johnson said that when the process began six to eight months ago, he never would have thought they’d be discussing this amount. Now, he said he’s ready to eat, sleep and breathe this amount until it passes.

Erica Wasinger and Lynn Goebel stepped to the podium to announce their positions as volunteer co-chairs of the levy campaign.

“Now it is time for the fun, excitement and hard work of a campaign to begin,” Wasinger said, noting how important it is for all Oak Harbor students to have the opportunity, tools and guidance to join the photos of the proud graduates of Oak Harbor High School in the school’s hallway, where she’d like to see her own children someday.

“It is going to be a great time!” Goebel added.