Board of education candidate, A.J. Smith, said reinstatement of bus
services should be the No. 1 priority
BY LAURA RICHEY
Oct, 23, 2007
MIDDLETOWN— This old Butler County city, once historically known as a steel town with a high growth rate not so long ago, stands at a crucial fork in its road leading to education.
Come Nov. 6, voters here will consider renewing a $4 million school levy and creating a new $1.5 million levy. The results will have long-lasting effects on whether Middletown thrives or falls.
This will be the cities third vote on the school levies known as Issue 13 and 14 that were last defeated by a 108 vote margin during a special election in May. Levy failures have forced the district to eliminate $5.5 million worth of programs and services including bus service and foreign language. To restore the cuts, both levies need to pass.
Passage of both levies will cost owners of a $100,000 home an additional $67 more per year. If only the renewal passes, the school can bring back $4 million worth of cuts. That means that $1.5 million worth of programs /services that have been eliminated will not be restored according to Middletown board of education communication specialist, Debbie Alberico. The $1.5 million increase is to cover inflation in the district.
Twelve-year board member Katie McNeil stressed that community input should determine what should be reinstated should one or both of the levies pass.
“We see the impact in our community now and this is a safety issue and that is the concern,” she said.
Bill Triick, president of the Chamber of Commerce serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton, said he sees a lot of opportunity ahead for Middletown.
“The Chamber wants and needs good schools to maintain a strong work force but the change is ultimately up to the citizens of Middletown. It’s a personal decision,” Triick said.
“Every election is important but this election is the equivalent of the presidential election on a local level. It’s big,” he said. “The public is expecting change; it’s what they want. It is the first time old and new money is being split on the ballot which means enormous changes at the polls. It is a challenging time for economics.”
Miami University economics professor and Middletown resident Selcuk Misirlioglu agrees with Mr. Triick. “Which is more costly? AN increase in crime or an increase in taxes? As a recent home owner I should not mind paying $20-$30 more per tax month so that the value of my house would not at least go down as a result of an increase in crime,” Misirlioglu said.
Among shop owners to families to educators to Chamber of Commerce types, many agree Middletown has struggled for a long time, and the lockout at AK Steel which ended in February for the city's largest employer, didn’t help. But many disagree on what steps the city should take next.
Board of education candidates Greg Tyus, John Sauter and A.J. Smith agree that the reinstatement of bus services should be the No. 1 priority if one or both levies pass.
“There are children not getting to school and not getting to school on time,” said Tyus, a former board member seeking to return.
Al McIntosh is not sure how he will vote on either levy because he “isn’t as directly affected as other parents,” because his children attend a private school. McIntosh said that he is tired of paying more and more money. “These levies are not the answer to everything,” the Berns Garden Center employee said. “I voted yes to build the district new schools a few years ago but it has to stop somewhere.”
Although the AK Steel lockout ended in March, residents are still feeling the pain and it could show in the school levy results on the Nov. ballot.
Don Geldrich feels he was forced financially to retire from the steel company. He had to make the “no brainer decision” of taking an early retirement with full benefits or going back to work at a lower pay rate with less benefits. Geldrich said his entire family is voting no on the Middletown school levies to be decided in November.
“The housing market is in a recession and the economy usually goes into a depression after such an event. With AK Steel settling for a concessionary contract I will not vote yes. With everything on a downswing, I don’t see how they expect people to pay higher taxes.”
Steve Forkner, also retired from AK Steel due to the lockout, is also voting no on both school levies. “I’m paying enough and being unemployed, I mean retired, it just seems like there is no end to it and there probably never will be an end to it,” he said.
While the AK Steel situation is influencing some voters, other citizens see a dire need for the levies to pass.
“Make no mistake, no one likes taxes. But as citizens of Middletown we need to see that both Issue 13 and 14 pass to continue the high standard of education that has become a trademark in Middletown. Voting no does not affect the Board of Education or the superintendent. Yes, it makes their job more difficult, but it is the students that suffer because of lack of programs needed to attend quality universities. A yes vote is for our children and a start at preserving Middie Pride,” said Sam Minge, a member of the pro-levy activist group, PRIDE.
The levies are not the sole educational issue. Three of five Board of Education positions are up for election. Candidates agreed on a need for change at a candidate forum last week. Communication with the community is their first priority when elected.
“We need to change our image,” 2007 Middletown High School graduate and board candidate A.J. Smith said.
Smith, who campaigned in favor of the school levies in August, shocked citizens at a candidate forum last week when he said the renewal was needed and the increase was not.
“The $4 million renewal is a definite need, but the $1.5 million increase, I believe we want it more than we need it,” Smith said.
For more Middletown election and board of education candidate information visit the Butler County Board of Elections web site: http://www.butlercountyelections.org/
No comments:
Post a Comment