Look at all sides of the Leetonia school levy

Look at all sides of the Leetonia school levy

EDITOR:

As concerned homeowners, proud parents and active community members, we wanted to address the merits and necessity of the proposed school levy the Leetonia Board of Education has placed on the November ballot. We ask your readers to take the proper perspective into the voting booth on Nov. 6.

For starters, funding for the school has nothing to do with recent passage and pending construction of the new library. The two are completely separate entities. We respect the many debates that continue in the village and divided opinions regarding the library, but it would be sad to see that unrelated debate affect the success of the levy, thus severely weakening our school and educational opportunities for the kids within our district.

It’s been 16 years since the last request for general funding as a result of sound fiscal management and staff reductions over those years. However, due to stagnant state funding and an increase in expenses such as special education, the levy is very essential to the basic operation and long term success of the Leetonia Village Schools. Without its passage, deficits will be unavoidable and larger levy requests would be brought before the voters in 2008.   

Whether you have kids in school today or are a homeowner in the district, the community as a whole benefits from a strong and stable school system. Schools that excel academically and financially enhance the appeal of their communities, and the value of the homes within. Past and present boards have managed budgets well, absent of increases in state funding, while supporting the staff needs, initiatives, and athletics resulting in continued academic performance growth.

We appreciate that many people face fixed incomes, higher utilities, and higher costs of living. These are not new challenges. We were all kids who once benefited from communities that faced similar challenges, yet were able to support their schools and provide options that made a difference in each kid’s life. We ask your help and your continued outstanding support for this school. Your support will cost about the same as a daily newspaper or less.    

The school, its history, its building, the staff, and its students represent the heart, pride and backbone of what Leetonia is today and tomorrow.

MISSY BROCK

Leetonia

KURT JENNINGS

Salem

X Jennings is chairman and Brock treasurer of the Committee to Support the Leetonia School Levy.

Look for what’s good in Youngstown; there’s lots of it

EDITOR:

Youngstown was beautiful, but it has some bad sides to it, like guns, bad people and lots of fires. Some people are afraid of Youngstown, or should I say, lots of people. Some people say it is the gun city, but to me and my family, it has been home, a great big city with nice homes.

Most people in Youngstown are very nice and peaceful, like me and a bunch of other people I know. One good man who lived in Youngstown was my father. Another nice person from Youngstown is Kelly Pavlik, because he always sticks up for Youngstown.

JORDYN GRECO, Age 9

Youngstown