Sophie Halm
eSomethin staff
Voters in the Perrysburg community will have the opportunity to express their beliefs and values about the school district on November 4, 2025, in the ballot box.
According to the Wood County Board of Elections, there were nearly 25,000 total registered voters in Perrysburg, and there was about a 54-86% turnout at each polling location on Election Day in 2024.
Perrysburg School’s 2024 tax levy failed, which cut $6 million worth of staff, clubs, field trips, and more.
A year has passed since that vote, and now another levy is on the ballot.
Perrysburg Schools’ district administration and Perrysburg High School face the heftiest cuts, according to the reduction plan, should the November levy fail. The Perrysburg School Board announced these reductions would be made if the levy failed in a board meeting on September 22, 2025. “We can’t cut 2nd grade,” Perrysburg Interim Superintendent, Dr. Kadee Anstadt said.
This levy, if not passed, will cut another $6 million from the district’s budget, according to Perrysburg Schools. This will result in the elimination of band, orchestra, choir, and recess at Hull Prairie Intermediate School. This will also eliminate all extracurriculars and even athletics at Perrysburg High School, in addition to other cuts.
Many student athletes are discussing backup plans as to which school they would attend if the levy fails and athletics are cut.
Jocelyn DeLauter, a sophomore softball and basketball player at PHS, said, “My backup plan if the levy fails is to transfer to either Otsego or Eastwood. Without high school sports, the recruiting process would become a lot harder because colleges wouldn’t be able to look at things like stats and how well I play against other ages. I would have to rely on colleges finding me through travel tournaments or teams, which could be hard if I’m not in showcases.”
The levy is leaving PHS athletes concerned about their future in sports if the levy fails.
Impact on student spirit
Perrysburg High School is known for its college-sized student section. At each home football game, students pack the stands at Steinecker Stadium to cheer on the Yellow Jackets. They call it Friday Night Lights, or FNL, and dress in coordinated themes to show as much spirit as they can. The presence of the student section—The Swarm—is eminent.
Cruz Vasquez, a senior football player at PHS, said, “The Swarm is the best student section in the country. They always bring ‘it,’ especially at home. [The Swarm] helps impact the football game and helps us achieve our goal of victory.”
Perrysburg athletes appreciate The Swarm’s support and encouragement, and students love to show spirit for their school.
“Without The Swarm, there would be no Jacket Pride,” Vasquez said.
Perrysburg Athletics are well-known throughout Northwest Ohio.
DeLauter said, “…most schools see us as a threat.”
Vasquez said, “Our reputation is that we are ‘that team.’ When our opponents see us, no matter [the sport], they get scared. …We set our own expectations so high that we strike fear in the other team.”
Perrysburg is well-rounded and excels in all aspects including athletics, arts, and academics. Perrysburg Athletics has had five NLL championships in 2025 so far, numerous superior (I) rankings at OMEA conferences, and according to Perrysburg Messenger Journal, the district recently received a five-star rating on the State Report Card. This levy would axe two of those prides away.
“…Getting rid of [athletics] would make our school and community less competitive,” DeLauter said. “Perrysburg’s reputation would rapidly change depending on the outcome of the levy.”
Opponents speak up
There are voters in Perrysburg that feel a levy should be put in place that would work to fund and improve other aspects of the district, rather than cutting programs. This levy, however, does not meet their expectations.
A senior at PHS, who requested to remain anonymous, said that if she was eligible to vote in this election, “I would say [no] because cutting all of the stuff they’re gonna cut is not working towards a better school district—it’s not changing, fixing, or improving anything.” She feels that the money from this levy would not go towards improving the issues in the district, and rather, it would go to unneeded areas.
Perrysburg Stands Up is a citizen group that is against the upcoming levy.
An attempt was made to obtain a direct comment from this group, but a response was not received by publication deadline.
According to a public statement from the organization’s website, “We are not opposed to funding education, we are opposed to funding continued dysfunction. Little has changed within the district, and still no meaningful cuts have been made,” the group said.
Some people against the levy feel that the money should be going elsewhere, or if cuts are to be made, district leaders should reevaluate where.
Opponents of the November levy are concerned their money will be funding unnecessary areas in the district.
“Administrative bloat remains a major financial concern. …The district has also still not eliminated the positions added that were tied to Covid/ESSER funds,” the group stated.
According to Perrysburg Stands Up, Perrysburg Schools is dysfunctional because, “…there is a clear lack of strategic planning, with priorities misaligned,” and they believe that “…choosing to place student programs on the chopping block before considering reductions in administrative roles is unacceptable!”
Voter Registration Ends Soon
Last year, there were around 25,000 registered voters in Perrysburg, Ohio. This school year, 97 students will turn or have turned 18 years old before the deadline to register to vote: October 6, 2025.
An entire new wave of voters are able to express their opinion on their ballots in the upcoming election if they register.
(Photo Credit: Sophie Halm)
Samia Stepnick, a PHS senior who turned 18 earlier this September, is planning to register to vote.
Stepnick said, “I am very excited to vote for the first time and I’m very glad that my opinion and everything will get to be heard for the first time in a political sense.”
Her singular vote in November will add to the outcome that will affect this school district and state for years to come.
Every vote counts and will impact the outcome.
Stepnick said, “I think it’s very important that people get educated about the levy just so they know what they’re voting against or for. You have to be knowledgeable about voting because it is definitely a freedom that people take for granted, and we really need to be sure when we are either voting yes to something or voting no to something. You need to know exactly what it entails [and] what the changes would be.”
Each voice will have a chance to be heard and reflected in Perrysburg Schools and the state of Ohio in the upcoming election. However, voices can only be heard if they are registered to vote.
People can register to vote on Ohio’s Online Voter Registration System by October 6. The future of Perrysburg Schools and Ohio is in the hands of the people on November 4.
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