It's a waiting game until May for teachers, staff and students with the Switzerland of Ohio school district in Monroe County. They are hoping to pass a 6.44-mil emergency levy on the ballot.

According to officials, the district has a lot at stake, including a sweeping change in curriculum and cuts to teaching jobs if the levy doesn't pass.

"I've been here for 45 years, and for once for the first time, we've been able to experience a nice facility. We'd like to be able to give our students the things that they need to be able to go out and be successful when they leave here," said Jay Circosta, a guidance counselor and football coach at Monroe Central High School.

Superintendent Larry Elliot said district officials hope to keep the courses offered in the curriculum, continue extracurricular activities and add an armed resource officer to each campus, which includes nine buildings in the district.

"We've had tragedies at Sandy Hook, the shootings at Chardon last year about this time. Schools are places where, unfortunately, tragedy visits school campuses," said Elliot.

If voters don't pass the levy, a lot is at stake for students, including out-of-pocket funding for clubs.

"Me and a couple of my buddies got together, and we talked about that if it doesn't pass, we all might consider post-secondary … that, or transferring schools, but that would affect our sports," said junior Curtis Nixon, of Monroe Central High School. "We just are trying to get the word out to pass the levy."

As many as 40 teachers would lose their jobs, and electives would be slashed, Elliot said.

"I looked at the number of teachers that I might lose at the high school, and it might be as many as eight teachers, which would severely hinder what kind of curriculum we would have," said Jerry Calder, principal of Monroe Central High School.

The levy would cost about $12.40 for the average taxpayer, officials said, which fund the district in the amount of $2.5 million every year for five years. School officials and students said the levy will give them better opportunities to succeed.