MARYSVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — After a failed attempt in 2023, Marysville School District parents like Breanna Holland are reacting to yet another failed levy attempt.

“Our kids need to be first or else there’s not going to be a future in this community,” Holland said. “And I love this community. I don’t want to leave it.”

In a tight vote, the 5.5 mill emergency operating levy failed by a less than a two-percent margin. The additional revenue would’ve improved staff-to-student ratios and preserved current programs and activities.

The school district and many parents are now concerned about what this means for their schools and students.

“It was like the rug got ripped out from under me,” Holland said. “I was not expecting it to actually fail.”

According to Marysville Schools Superintendent Diane Allen, this levy failure means the district will be making several cuts and increasing how much families will have to pay for extracurriculars. 

“Pulls at my heartstrings as an educator for our kids and our students and our community overall,” Allen said.

Allen said it’s important to recognize that the school district is the 14th lowest in terms of revenue per pupil in the state. She said while the cuts are unfortunate, they’re needed to be able to operate within their current means.

“Our kids need to be first or else there’s not going to be a future in this community,” Holland said. “And I love this community. I don’t want to leave it.”

Several parents said they’re not shocked it was a close vote, but they are shocked it wasn’t a different outcome.

“I expected the community to put the kids first,” Holland said.

According to the district, starting this winter, pay-to-play fees will increase to $770 with no family cap. 

“This isn’t even about the struggling families anymore,” Holland said. “You can’t expect a basic, two-income, well-rounded household to pay over $700 for one sport.”

Holland said it’s devastating to have to take these activities away from her children, but it’s just not sustainable.

“The levy first started failing when I was in high school,” Holland said. “The reason I stayed in Marysville was because I wanted my kids to experience the magic of Marysville schools. I’ve raved about it my entire adulthood before I had children. I don’t want my kids in Marysville Schools anymore and that sucks.”

“For me, as an educator, I’d like to tell you as an adult I remember my Algebra 2 lesson, but quite frankly I don’t,” Allen said. “I remember sporting events and the activities and prom and all those type of things, and they’re the things that pull at your heartstrings.”

According to the district, it’ll also be eliminating its school resource officers effective before the end of the month. 

“Those resource officers are there because they love the kids and the kids should have that, and so it’s just sad,” Holland said.

Marysville School Board President Bill Keck said 30 teaching positions will also be impacted in the 2025-26 school year in areas like music and art.

“I’m very saddened to see that pretty much the cuts we’re going to make are going to affect this community for the next twenty to thirty years, and they’re going to be devastating,” Keck said.

Now, a local business is stepping up to help families in the district. Buckeye Family Pizzeria co-owners Chuck Ross and David Cowan announced they set up a local business fund through its non-profit Buckeye Family Charity.

“It’s going to cover all pay-to-play fees for any sport or activity or anything like that that the school requires people to pay,” Ross said.

“You don’t want to see somebody that could be the next Lebron James, can’t afford to play basketball because a levy didn’t pass and their family can’t afford to do it,” Cowan said.

Anyone interested in donating can visit Buckeye Family Pizzeria in person, round up when paying if you eat there, or do it online by clicking “order now” and then “pay to play.”