Jackson-Milton renewal won’t increase taxes

Opinion: October 29, 2007 at 2:00a.m.

EDITOR:

I was asked about a month ago to serve as chairperson for the committee supporting renewal of Jackson-Milton School District’s levy. I am finding that this will be a most difficult thing to do. Our community has always stood divided. Not by age or income, but by the small percentage of people who influence us in the areas we live. Through campaigns of misinformation and confusion these same individuals have been able to create enough panic to keep issues from being passed.

Our Middle/High school was originally built in 1913. The school board tried to pass a levy to build a new Middle/High school complex. Each time it has failed, the last time by around 8 votes (if I remember right). Each attempt lost us more and more state funding. With major repairs needed to the roof and structure of the building our school board had to find a way to protect the interest of our children and our community. After having a section of the high school ceiling collapse, they realized it had to be soon.

When the community property reassessment came through they saw the answer. They would not need to put this back on the ballot and waste more taxpayers’ money to do it. The reassessment put our community almost at the mark needed to make the new middle and high school a reality. If it had come six months sooner they would have built it immediately at no additional cost. One of the provisions given to the board of education by the state was the right to move millage in case of an emergency. I believe, as they did, that this was that time. It was bold and unpopular to say the least, but we are now getting our new school.

What does this all have to do with what I said before? Well, it’s background on why our community currently feels as it does. Needless to say some community members and leaders are taking it out on our children. This renewal isn’t about a new school — it’s about teachers for our children, sports programs to be involved in, bus service for our children to get too and from school, and the other expenses of running a school. Our school district has not asked for new operating funds since 1998, and plans to keep it that way until around 2012.

II need your help to get the message out to the community that a renewal isn’t an increase. It’s not building a school. It’s about providing an education for our children. We have to do something to break through the deception that the opposition has been spreading. Failing this renewal will not stop our new school from being built, and waiting for the state to change how it funds schools will only hurt our children and our community.

JOHN LENGYEL

North Jackson

Trustees play Halloween prank on township residents

EDITOR:

This year “Moe” (Austintown), “Larry” (Canfield), “Curly” (North Jackson) did it again. Every surrounding area is having trick or treat on Halloween from 5 to 7 p.m., these pumpkin heads decided to have theirs again from 6 to 8 p.m. So after 7 p.m., look for the car loads and vans dropping off their kids to get that extra one hour of trick or treating.

I think these so called leaders need to get on the same page and have it on Halloween at the same times.

ANDY PAPPAGALLO Sr.

Mineral Ridge