November 2025 Levy Information

The South Euclid-Lyndhurst City School District Board of Education has placed a 7.9-mill levy on the November 4 ballot for the public’s consideration, which, if approved by voters would generate funds to support the district’s general operating and current expenses and permanent improvements, including repairs, renovations, and maintenance of buildings, grounds, and equipment across the district.

If approved, funds generated by the levy would be used for critical building repairs and renovations across the district. This includes transforming the Southlyn property into a new preschool building to better meet the community’s need for high-quality early childhood programming, as well as upgrades to the nearly 100-year-old Brush High School building. These updates would enhance spaces such as the Performing Arts Center, which serves students across the district, and support the growth of our Career Technical Education (CTE) program. Additionally, levy funds would help sustain the teachers, staff, and programs that educate more than 3,000 SEL Schools students every day.

If approved, the levy would cost property owners within the district about $23 per month per $100,000 of appraised value, per the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer.

Enrollment in SEL’s gold-rated preschool program has quadrupled since 2020, which is the last time the district placed an issue on the ballot. The district’s preschool program currently consists of eight half-day, integrated and special education classrooms – double what the district had in 2022.

The program is currently housed at Rowland Elementary School, which is facing spacing issues as a result of the demand. Repurposing Southlyn would allow the district to make use of property it already owns while meeting the community’s early learning needs.

If approved by voters, funds generated by the levy would support the district’s Master Facility Planning Process, which was unveiled this spring. The district created the Master Facility Plan using feedback gathered from teaching, student support, custodial, and transportation staff, along with a free audit of all SEL facilities conducted by Ameresco. The plan is designed to ensure that our buildings remain safe, functional, and conducive to high-quality education.

While Phase One is already underway, funds generated from the November 4, 2025 levy would be used for costs related to Phases Two and Three of the Master Facilities Plan. Phase Two includes renovating Southlyn to create a new preschool building to address the district’s growth among its youngest learners, as well as renovation of the Brush High School Performing Arts Center and other prioritized needs around the district. Phase Three includes upgrading the boilers at Brush High, Sunview Elementary, Memorial Junior High, and Greenview Upper Elementary Schools, along with restoring mortar joints at all district buildings.

Phase One of the Plan includes renovation of Brush High School’s currently unused third floor, roof replacement at Rowland Elementary and Memorial Junior High Schools, and addressing HVAC issues at Brush High School. Phase One is funded using the remaining balance of permanent improvement funds from the 2020 levy.

The SEL Schools prides itself on responsible, transparent management of public funds. The district consistently looks for ways to stretch the budget from year to year, operating leanly in all aspects, from operations to transportation, technology and more, and reducing the need to place issues on the ballot for the public’s consideration to the extent possible. As a result, the district has stayed off the ballot for nearly six years. 

The district also looks for ways to stretch its budget, where possible. For example, projects from the district’s permanent improvement funding in 2020 finished under budget, allowing officials to use those dollars to cover additional projects in the Master Plan. Additionally, the SEL Schools have won several clean audit awards from the Auditor of State over the past decade. “The School District actively pursues grants and controls expenses while still maintaining the high academic standards the residents expect of the School District,” Ohio Auditor Keith Faber wrote about the SEL Schools in 2023.

Understanding how K-12 public schools in Ohio are funded is critical to recognizing the role of local communities in supporting education. Funding for public schools comes from three primary sources: state, local, and federal contributions. The district provides a brief overview of how each works, as well as information on property taxes, on the Treasurer's webpage. For more information, the district has also created a School Funding FAQ.

If the levy fails, the district will experience a budgetary shortfall of $9.2 million over the next two years. This would result in the need to implement cuts that adversely impact the 3,000-plus students and families who rely on our teachers, staff, programs, teams, and clubs for education, enrichment, and preparation for successful futures.

Election Day is Nov. 4, 2025. Please visit the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections website to learn more about voter registration, absentee voting, polling locations, and more.