Adam Bird was hired as superintendent of New Richmond Schools at Thursday night's board meeting to replace retiring superintendent Tom Durbin. Bird has spent the last 12 years as an administrator at New Richmond, the last 7 as principal at New Richmond Middle School.
Bird, a New Richmond graduate, talks about the challenges he faces in his new job in this video interview. Click on the play button to watch.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Distinction rating possible for NREVSD
Retiring superintendent Tom Durbin discusses New Richmond's chances of being rated Excellent with Distinction when the Ohio Department of Education releases its final 2010 state report card.
Click on the Play button below to watch the video.
Click on the Play button below to watch the video.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
New Richmond's Road to Excellence
John Frye, New Richmond's Director of Student and Staff Services, breaks down the 2010 Ohio state report cards for the New Richmond Exempted Village School District.
Click on the play button below to watch the video.
Click on the play button below to watch the video.
Friday, July 23, 2010
High School renovation update
The New Richmond High School renovation project remains on schedule for an August 19 or earlier completion in time for the start of the 2010-2011 school year.
Retiring superintendent Tom Durbin inspects a third-floor classroom Thursday, July 22. The boxes contain ceiling tiles which should be installed by the end of this week following an electrical inspection.
"The asbestos people are finished and have moved out (July 22)and everything is on schedule," said retiring superintendent Tom Durbin, who is overseeing the completion of the project before his retirement Aug. 31. "The only concern we have is the new cabinets which were special ordered because of the space they must fit."
The second and third floors of the original high school building (built in 1965) are getting a complete facelift in this first phase of the $977,000 project. The bottom floor will be renovated during the summer break in 2011. The project includes the removal of all asbestos, new wiring, lighting, floors and ceilings.
An electrician does some last minute checks before the July 22 electrical inspection on the third floor. The new lighting system includes energy saving sensors which will automatically turn lights on when someone enters a classroom and turn lights off when everyone leaves the room.
Work on the third floor should be completed by the end of July.
"The painters are almost done on the third floor and they are ready to start re-hanging the refinished doors," said Durbin. "They will start installing the ceiling tiles after an electrical inspection (July 22) and then wax the new floors."
Workers from Central Insulation Systems completed asbestos removal from the high school and moved out July 22.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Napier featured in WKRC report
about Duke Energy tax dispute
New Richmond Exempted Village School District treasurer Teresa Napier was interviewed by WKRC's Rich Jaffe Wednesday as part of a news report on Duke Energy's latest move in its battle to reduce its personal property tax, a move that will cost New Richmond $1.5 million per year.
Click on the photo below to watch the WKRC report.
Click on the photo below to watch the WKRC report.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Tax battles with Duke Energy
nothing new for NR treasurer
New Richmond Exempted Village School District treasurer Teresa Napier has spent most of her 14 years as district treasurer fighting attempts by then Cinergy and now Duke to drastically cut the amount of real estate and personal property taxes they pay.
Duke Energy’s decision to withhold 40 percent of its personal property tax payments while it appeals how the State of Ohio values utility personal property will cost the 2400-student New Richmond district $1.5 million of its annual $24 million budget.
“If you pull $1.5 million out of our budget, how can it not affect our kids?" said Napier.
Duke has negotiated with the Ohio Department of Taxation for seven months about how the state determines the assessed value of Duke's personal property such as poles, transformers and other equipment. Duke wants the personal property taxed at how much it would re-sale for as used equipment.
Duke has asked for a hearing by the Ohio Tax Commissioner by the end of the summer. If it's appeal is rejected, it can appeal to the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals and could file a lawsuit if its appeal is rejected. The entire process could take years. Meanwhile, Duke, which is required to pay only uncontested taxes, is withholding the 40 percent it contests from its tax payments. The move with cost Clermont County’s schools and governments $6,227,830 a year.
“Since they have already paid their first half taxes ($736,000) we have to put that money in a contingency fund in case they win their appeal and then lose another $736,000 in the second half,” said Napier.
Losing $1.5 million a year comes at a critical time for the New Richmond school district, which faces a loss of $8 million a year in 2017 when the State of Ohio stops compensating the district for revenue New Richmond lost when Ohio deregulated public utilities.
“Right now we’re spending everything we’re taking in so we’re going to have to make some hard decisions,” warns Napier. “That $1.5 million and if we continue to spend it, would be cutting into our savings.”
New Richmond’s battles with the electric company began in 1997 when Cinergy contested how its real property was valued. The district, which is home to Duke Energy’s Beckjord and Zimmer generating plants, won that battle but at a cost of $600,000 in legal fees.
The district had little help in the 1997 fight since New Richmond schools was the primary unit affected, but this time everyone in Southwestern Ohio will lose money if Duke prevails.
Among Clermont County government units losing money this time according to figures released by the Clermont County Auditor, are:
New Richmond Exempted Village School District: $1,472,118.
West Clermont Schools: $833,424.
Milford City Schools: $580,412.
Pierce Township: $392,288.
Village of New Richmond: $87,368.
Washington Township: $176,718.
Village of Moscow: $25,138.
Monroe Township: $19,630.
Ohio Township: $3832.
“I’ve had several calls from other districts and governments about getting together to fight this,” said Napier. “We won before and hopefully we’ll win again.”
New Richmond lost $260 million in property valuation when the state deregulated utilities in 2001. With deregulation, Duke saved $25 million in real estate taxes per year just in Clermont County on taxes it used to pay on its Beckjord and Zimmer generating plants, both of which are in the New Richmond school district.
“They’re profitable; they’re making money and it’s just aggravating,” said Napier. “We won the last battle and hopefully we’ll win this time, too.”
Click here to see how much Duke's tax moves will cost Clermont County schools and governments every six months.
Duke Energy’s decision to withhold 40 percent of its personal property tax payments while it appeals how the State of Ohio values utility personal property will cost the 2400-student New Richmond district $1.5 million of its annual $24 million budget.
“If you pull $1.5 million out of our budget, how can it not affect our kids?" said Napier.
Duke has negotiated with the Ohio Department of Taxation for seven months about how the state determines the assessed value of Duke's personal property such as poles, transformers and other equipment. Duke wants the personal property taxed at how much it would re-sale for as used equipment.
Duke has asked for a hearing by the Ohio Tax Commissioner by the end of the summer. If it's appeal is rejected, it can appeal to the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals and could file a lawsuit if its appeal is rejected. The entire process could take years. Meanwhile, Duke, which is required to pay only uncontested taxes, is withholding the 40 percent it contests from its tax payments. The move with cost Clermont County’s schools and governments $6,227,830 a year.
“Since they have already paid their first half taxes ($736,000) we have to put that money in a contingency fund in case they win their appeal and then lose another $736,000 in the second half,” said Napier.
Losing $1.5 million a year comes at a critical time for the New Richmond school district, which faces a loss of $8 million a year in 2017 when the State of Ohio stops compensating the district for revenue New Richmond lost when Ohio deregulated public utilities.
“Right now we’re spending everything we’re taking in so we’re going to have to make some hard decisions,” warns Napier. “That $1.5 million and if we continue to spend it, would be cutting into our savings.”
New Richmond’s battles with the electric company began in 1997 when Cinergy contested how its real property was valued. The district, which is home to Duke Energy’s Beckjord and Zimmer generating plants, won that battle but at a cost of $600,000 in legal fees.
The district had little help in the 1997 fight since New Richmond schools was the primary unit affected, but this time everyone in Southwestern Ohio will lose money if Duke prevails.
Among Clermont County government units losing money this time according to figures released by the Clermont County Auditor, are:
New Richmond Exempted Village School District: $1,472,118.
West Clermont Schools: $833,424.
Milford City Schools: $580,412.
Pierce Township: $392,288.
Village of New Richmond: $87,368.
Washington Township: $176,718.
Village of Moscow: $25,138.
Monroe Township: $19,630.
Ohio Township: $3832.
“I’ve had several calls from other districts and governments about getting together to fight this,” said Napier. “We won before and hopefully we’ll win again.”
New Richmond lost $260 million in property valuation when the state deregulated utilities in 2001. With deregulation, Duke saved $25 million in real estate taxes per year just in Clermont County on taxes it used to pay on its Beckjord and Zimmer generating plants, both of which are in the New Richmond school district.
“They’re profitable; they’re making money and it’s just aggravating,” said Napier. “We won the last battle and hopefully we’ll win this time, too.”
Click here to see how much Duke's tax moves will cost Clermont County schools and governments every six months.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Fred Heflin interview on Duke Energy
New Richmond Board of Education member Fred Heflin was featured June 30 in a WKRC television news special about the impact of Duke Energy withholding 40 percent of its personal property tax on the New Richmond Exempted Village School District and Pierce Township, which includes New Richmond's Locust Corner Elementary.
The school district will lose $1.5 million a year if Duke wins its appeal on how its personal property is valued. Pierce Township will lose $393,000 a year, including $170,000 for police and $133,000 for fire/ems according to the Clermont County Auditor.
Click on the play button below to watch the newscast.
The school district will lose $1.5 million a year if Duke wins its appeal on how its personal property is valued. Pierce Township will lose $393,000 a year, including $170,000 for police and $133,000 for fire/ems according to the Clermont County Auditor.
Click on the play button below to watch the newscast.
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