The Emergency Levy

Please allow me this rant. There was a post on the Tribune's website making claims about the upcoming Emergency School levy. As some of you know, I am on the committe to help pass the levy, so I felt a need to respond to some of the claims....see below...

I felt a need to respond to the comments posted on the Tribune's website. Though I understand the author's frustration with the way the STATE has failed to act on school funding in Ohio, it is important for local communities to continue to support our LOCAL school systems. So at least let me address the statements made in the post.

The school system has gone from “academic emergency” to an “effective” rating. We are close to being rated as an “excellent” school system (something that we as a community should be proud of, by the way). They have done this by keeping good teachers and student/teacher ratio down. These neighborhood schools are an important part of this ratio.

Second, the idea that we would ultimately save money by getting rid of extra-curricular activities is simply false. I can tell you it would take $268,000 out of the budget. But the students we would lose to open enrollment (and YES we would lose them) would far outweigh that budget cut. We would end of LOSING money, students, teachers and, ultimately property value by using this option.

Third, transportation seems to be hot button issue on this levy. It is important to note that is an extremely small part of the overall budget. However, with that being said, I recently found out that our school system receives reimbursement for every student we have on the bus. So when you start up the buses (which we are required to do) the costs don’t vary much. But by finding ways to offer transportation to more students we actually SAVE money as a school district.

In addition, the idea that our school district is putting children in cages is so ridiculous that it almost is not worth a response. If you want to question the levy, that is your right. It is not your right, however, to just make up lies to accomplish your goals. And it seems awfully disingenuous to do so while claiming dishonesty on the school’s part!

Finally, the idea this all threats is simply not true. Period. If the levy passes, the schools stay open. If the levy fails, Washington school will close. Pretty simple stuff, really. There is no hidden conspiracy. There is no dishonest scare tactic.

I think this is where the school system is in an impossible situation. If they tell us what is going to be cut, they are threatening us. If they don’t, we as a community can’t see the need. In this case, they are laying out what will happen if costs don’t re-align with expenditures. If you ask me, it’s as honest as they can be.

It is important to note here that I have NO affiliation with the school system. I will benefit from this levy passing the same way most of you will…by our community improving and our children having a quality education! Please join me in voting YES on the school levy.