WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — Parents and community members in Westerville are reacting after the school district saw its proposed levy voted down Tuesday night.

Issue 44 was a combined bond and operating levy, that the district says would have helped maintain programs and services for students. They also say it was an important step in enhancing security and facilities across the district.

Some parents and community members that NBC spoke with on Wednesday say they’re disappointed, but hopeful another levy will be brought to the table in the future. But others say the district has more than enough money to support their growing needs.

“The school district definitely needs the money and I was certainly in hopes that it would pass,” admitted Westerville’s Chris Cavanagh.

Cavanagh is the father of a teacher in the Westerville City School District. He was among the more than 24,000 voters who supported the district’s levy on Tuesday’s ballot.

“I hear from my daughter on a constant basis how much additional funding they need, how much she pays out of pocket for things,” Cavanagh says. “It could be photocopying, it could be supplies in the room, it could be additional technology.”

Both Cavanagh and Rilee Ferguson hoped for upgraded technology and supplies for students, as well as improved salaries for teachers.

“I’ve heard a lot of frustration from public teachers, which is really disappointing because they really are such a backbone, I think, of our country,” says Ferguson. “I think that the pandemic really showed how much they do for our children and for the country, and I was really hoping that the levy would go toward paying them what they’re worth.”

The levy failed by a 4% margin and Doug Krinsky was at the forefront of those opposed to the issue.

“I think it was voted down because people are not happy with the decisions that the board is making,” Krinsky says.

On Wednesday, Westerville City Schools released a statement saying its commitment to the students remains strong, but that the facilities projects planned as part of issue, would be halted.

“They don’t need to worry about the physical buildings. They’re fine to teach in, the environments are good. What they need to worry about are test scores in the district,” Krinsky states. Over the last 10 years, every single subject, every single grade are down double-digits.”

A spokesperson says that conversations with both district leadership and the board will determine their next steps.

But as for what comes next, those for and against the issue, remain divided.

“Transfer back the $30 million back into the general operating fund. Revise the five-year projections on salaries, benefits and any other area they think they can cut back on,” explains Krinsky, who says he has presented alternative options to the school board on multiple occasions, without feedback. “I’m not saying eliminate salary increases or eliminate benefit increases. Stay with what you’ve been doing, because it’s in line with where we need to be, and the public is basically saying, ‘live within your means.'”

When asked if she hoped another levy would be brought to the table in the future, Ferguson says ‘every year.’

“We will never stop educating our children and hoping for truth to reign,” Ferguson adds.

NBC4 did reach out to Westerville City School District Superintendent Angie Hamberg and were told she was unavailable to speak. We also reached out to the school board without response.

Meanwhile, the district spokesperson said the district will look to see if they want to go back to the ballot next spring, but says those decisions have not yet been made.

You can read the school district’s full statement in response to the levy failure below:

“We want to take a moment to address the recent outcome of the school ballot issue vote. As we shared previously, this levy and bond issue was needed to maintain our current programming and services for students and was an important step toward enhancing our security and facilities across the District. We will carefully analyze the feedback we have received and prioritize student programming and services against available funding.

“Our commitment to providing a high-quality education for our students remains strong. There are many questions on how this decision will impact our District. While we know the facilities projects identified from this ballot issue will be halted, we ask for your patience as we work to determine the complete impact to our school community. “