Support Jackson-Milton’s kids; vote for the school levy

Opinion: August 1, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

EDITOR:

I have tried to remain calm over the last few years of school levy defeats for the Jackson-Milton district. You see, despite our mailing address, we live in Milton Township. But, since we “just” moved here in 1985 we are “new” and didn’t go to the old school. If it was good enough for the grandparents, it is good enough for this generation. I did attend Howland Central Elementary which has long since been torn down and a park is in its place. Also I taught in two old schools in Warren during my 30 years as a teacher and it was not easy even then with the old wiring and one outlet per room just as computers were becoming prevalent. Our daughter attended JM from K-12 and started an entry level job at over $30,000/year before she even finished college. She must have learned something at JM. She did worry about the roof of the high school falling in (as it did in Austintown in a school of similar vintage) and she always thought the art room was a death trap.

Today in the mail, we received another “Vote No” flyer with a Boardman return address. One has arrived before every election and this one set me off. “Only 45 seniors at JMS...” Why would kids want to go to the old, run down school when there is open enrollment and every other school around has a new facility? “JM enrollment continues to shrink...” Who wants to move here with the kind of mentality that won’t even pass renewal levies that wouldn’t raise their taxes?

My husband’s family has had a cottage at Lake Milton for about 100 years and the way the houses around the lake have been upgraded, people don’t seem to be concerned about jobs, gasoline, etc. There are new trucking companies and industrial parks in North Jackson (one with the same last name as the treasurer who sent out the flyer.) I am guessing that these naysayers are some of the same people who vetoed GM coming to North Jackson over 40 years ago. That was when Lordstown got new schools and had surplus equipment, carpeting, TVs in every room, etc.

The flyer says “Vote No on Aug, 5 and get a 17 percent reduction on your 2009 school tax.” You might save a little money that way, but just try to sell your home to a family with children with the trouble you are making for the school system. Whoever these people are (mind you, nothing is signed) they have money for mailing flyers several times a year. If this group expended their time volunteering in the schools maybe some of the other academic issues could be improved.

Today’s kids are more technologically advanced than most people can imagine, even in a small town area like Jackson-Milton. If we don’t allow them to keep up with the world then it will pass them by. Small firms are even becoming a thing of the past and most of the kids will work elsewhere. Will they want to raise their families in a community where half the adults have tunnel-vision when it comes to change? The school levy votes have been pretty close so there are people out there that see the need for progress. We have always voted yes for the kids, even though we no longer have one in the system.

SUSAN STODDART

Newton Falls