POLAND SCHOOLS Voices of support for levy renewal

Residents say the district deserves support.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN Jr.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- Poland residents will decide in May the fate of a long-standing tax levy for the Poland School District -- a levy that officials say can make or break the school system.
The levy first went into effect in the early 1980s and has been renewed every five years since that time. Renewing the levy now would not mean an increase in property tax.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Zorn said the 4.2-mill levy will generate $1,369,748 for the district's general fund and operating costs. The money makes up roughly 20 percent of the district's funding -- a sum Zorn said the schools cannot afford to lose.
"Losing 20 percent of your budget, you simply could not make it," he said. "You cannot cut anything from the district to make up that deficit. The district would be in big trouble."
Zorn said even if all sports in the school system were eliminated leaving only educational activities, there would still be a huge deficit. All the sports programs combined cost the district about $300,000 annually, he said.
"I don't want to think about that," he said. "The answer is to be positive that the taxpayers who have supported this for almost 20 years would renew it for another five years."
Poland resident Bob McBride said his vote will go for the schools as usual. He said that he always casts a vote for anything in support of the schools and that it is imperative for all residents of a community to support the school system.
Reasons for support: Zorn said it is important that residents understand that they will not be paying any additional taxes. The millage has decreased from upwards of 8.5 mills since the levy took effect. The money generated from the levy, however, has remained the same.
When the property value in the district goes up and new houses are built the millage decreases, generating the same amount of money.
Zorn said another reason citizens should show support for the levy is the exemplary education students in the school district receive. He points to findings by a Columbus-based school rating institution that placed Poland schools in the top 15 percent in the country for academic achievement.
Residents' views: Poland resident Tina Nordgren agrees that the schools offer an excellent education and need the financial support of the community. She said she'll definitely vote to renew the tax levy.
Kathy McMichael and Jenny Hunt both have small children in the school system. Both say that they are very happy with the system and that there is nothing they would change about how the schools operate. They both support the levy renewal.
Sherrie Vargazas is a North Elementary School PTA member. She said the reputation of the district as offering high-quality education to its pupils makes her family support the levy renewal without question.
"There are always changes that could be made, but so far as overall education I think they are doing great," she said. "We are going to vote yes for the levy renewal because the schools here are doing so well and the overall economic view is good."