Hubbard principal urges public to support pool levy

Hubbard principal urgespublic to support pool levy
EDITOR:
I came to Hubbard having lived in Canfield and Greenford (South Range Schools) and having worked in the Youngstown Schools. I truly appreciate being given the opportunity to work in this community with the youths of Hubbard.
Upon arrival in July, I was immediately impressed with the community support and involvement in the Hubbard Schools. The schools are the central focus of the community. People of all ages gather at the facilities, walk the halls and track, hold community meetings, attend plays and sporting events, using and supporting the Hubbard Schools. The rich heritage of the Hubbard Eagles is very impressive to a Hubbard novice.
The well-maintained facilities utilized by Hubbard students and community members are far superior to any I have witnessed in my educational career. The middle school-high school campus, baseball-softball fields, memorial stadium, football practice fields, soccer fields and especially the community swimming pool are treasures.
In the upcoming election, the community will be asked to approve the 2.5 mill emergency school levy to support repairs and operations to the swimming pool. This is a facility second to none in the area. Although it appears that it is often taken for granted, its worth is immeasurable. You cannot gauge the pleasure derived by students learning to swim, jobs obtained by lifeguard training, competitive swimming and diving teams, scuba-diving certification, community swims, and most importantly the tragedies prevented by the aquatic skills obtained in this facility. Its value is not measurable.
I equate the community pool to our electric service; we don't think about its value until it's gone. As principal of Hubbard High School, I encourage your support of the maintenance and operating levy for the community pool so that in the future we will continue to offer these experiences available in NO other community in the area.
LARRY LUSHINSKY, Principal
Hubbard High School
Austintown is being leftbehind in building schools
EDITOR:
During the past several years, I have read about the new schools being built in Youngstown, Struthers, Lowellville, Girard, etc. These people should certainly be congratulated for supporting their children.
In Austintown, however, we have voted against replacing our 87-year-old decrepit outdated building that can no longer even be repaired. We shamefully call this monstrosity a middle school.
I wonder why. Is it because we just don't respect our children? Is it because we don't feel obligated to provide a first-class education like the other communities? Or don't we have as much income as the people living in other communities? It is difficult to believe the latter, as the parking lots of our restaurants, bars, theaters, plazas and stores are usually full.
A friend recently located here from another state and wanted to live in Austintown. He found a nice home and then checked the voting records of our school levies and visited the Austintown Middle School. He now lives in Canfield.
I often hear people bragging about their homes, cars, vacations and travel plans. Wouldn't it be nice to brag about our schools?
Incidentally, I am retired and have no children in school.
PARKER McHENRY
Austintown
Austintown residentsmust reject bond issue
EDITOR:
The residents of Austintown must once again say no to a school board that wants us to sign on the line for $26 million to service a declining school population.
Why do we need to pay for a multimillion-dollar middle school for the next 27 years?
In 1980 there were 1,100 middle school pupils. In 1990 there were 958. In 2000 there were 900.
Currently, 850 pupils are enrolled in our middle schools, according to the main library.
Once again we need to vote down this exorbitant and unnecessary bond issue.
MARY ANN KARAS
Austintown
Austintown pupils needa new middle school
EDITOR:
School is a big part of every child's life. It's where they learn most of the skills that they will need in their future jobs.
What if your children were in a school that was literally falling apart?
Well, Austintown Middle School is exactly doing that. It's the oldest school in the district and its age is really starting to show.
In one classroom, tiny pieces of the ceiling actually fell on the pupils' heads. Many of the classrooms still have asbestos ceilings, which can cause cancer. Because the roof leaks so badly in one room, the teacher has to cover her desk with plastic at night just in case it rains. One classroom's ceiling is caving in. So many of the walls have large cracks in them. There's also mold in the nurse's office and some of the classrooms. I don't think this is good for the pupils' and the staff's health.
In the winter, some rooms are so warm that the teachers have to open the windows, but some are so cold that the pupils wear their coats to class.
Although my classmates and I will be in high school by the time a new school could be built, I feel that the citizens of Austintown should vote for the bond issue to ensure the health and safety of the future Austintown Middle School pupils.
BRITTANY AMICONE
Seventh grade
Austintown Middle School
Let's redistribute fundingto help the mentally ill
EDITOR:
Gov. Bob Taft is pushing for Issue 1 on the November ballot. The voters will decide whether to provide $500 million in bonds over the next 10 years to finance programs the state government hopes will spur the development of new products and technology.
I don't think this is a good time for Ohio to go further in debt. This type of funding is OK when our state is on solid financial ground, but we all know the state is in serious trouble.
It's really not clear what products we are talking about. We do know technology has been a big loser the past three years.
I think the people would be wise to say no to Issue 1. If we are going to upgrade our state, the money should go for our mentally ill. Back in 1988 the state shifted mental health to the local government, then cut money to local government.
Please note our state constitution article VII Sec. 1: The state shall support benefits to the insane, not the local communities.
THOMAS P. GILMARTIN
Youngstown
Brookfield grad, educatorurges support for levy
EDITOR:
There will be those who believe that the only reason that I am writing this editorial is because I am a teacher in the Brookfield Local School District. However, I am writing this editorial because I am a proud graduate of Brookfield High School and would like others to understand why I personally support the passage of our school district's upcoming levy.
I recently attended my 15-year class reunion. My classmates and I traded stories about our jobs and our children, but soon enough we found ourselves laughing and reminiscing about our years in school. Many of us had attended Brookfield Local Schools our whole lives, so we had plenty to talk about. We recounted stories of school field trips, band concerts, winning sports teams, caring and inspirational teachers, and memories made with good friends.
We were fortunate then to have a community that supported our dreams and goals by supporting our schools. The community realized that investing in education would someday pay off. That night at the reunion I was extremely honored to be in the company of doctors, pharmacists, teachers, business owners, sales representatives and many other talented and successful individuals -- all Brookfield graduates. By the looks of things, I have to say that the investment that the Brookfield community made in our education was a wise one.
Fifteen years from now, what will our graduates be saying at their reunion? Will they also have fond memories about their schools and gratitude for a community that chose to invest in their future?
This levy is not about any one person. Simply put, this levy is about the 1,500 students attending our schools right now. This levy is about preparing them for the future and giving our children every educational opportunity possible so that they will be successful. Our students are definitely worth the investment.
Please continue to support the quality and excellence of the Brookfield Local Schools by voting yes Nov. 4.
PAMELA (PRATER) IARUSSI
Struthers
What about General Motors?
EDITOR:
Here we go again. Our local communities want more money for schools, fire, police and government projects, which I have supported in the past. But when are they going to support the largest employer in this area, which is General Motors? For just one example take a drive through any school parking lot and see how many foreign cars you see. Maybe I should rethink my voting practice.
RICK COX
Milton Township
Where are the cops, firemenfrom last year's tax increase?
EDITOR:
I'm a Youngstown resident and taxpayer, and I want answers! One year ago we were scared into passing a tax for safety forces. It was my understanding that laid-off police and firemen would be called back to work as well as new ones hired.
So when will more be hired? It's been a year already. What is that tax money being used for since no safety forces have been hired? I know for a fact the police department is already understaffed, and with people retiring and leaving the force, they'll be understaffed even more. Their job is risky enough without dealing with understaffing. Will it take another police officer being killed or a firemen before they hire more?
We passed the tax; now use it for what it was intended for. I will never vote for another tax like this again just so the money can be used for other things. I'm pretty sure that money is being used for the downtown area or whatever else they can think of to use it. Why doesn't anyone investigate this matter? Government needs to be held accountable for our tax money! This money was intended for safety forces; now it's about time it was used for that.
CATHY HUPP
Youngstown
Mean-spirited critic should take another look at Clay
EDITOR:
In response to the cruel remarks by Associated Press music critic Christy Lemire in the Oct. 19 Vindicator about Clay Aiken, who is she and the paper to poke fun at his looks? She is not a critic, at least not a fair one. She is vindictive.
He has more grace, talent and polish than a mean spirited critic and the pen she is hiding behind.
Thank God he is not another "anyone," but he is Clay. He's dynamic, awesome and a powerful singer, no matter what he sings.
Give the guy a chance before cutting down his career because of his looks, which, by the way, have a sweetness the critic couldn't begin to see.
ROSE MOSS
New Castle, Pa.