What does the future hold for Jackson-Milton schools?

Opinion: August 19, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

EDITOR:

After the failure of the Jackson-Milton renewal levy the board will have to cut $500,000 in jobs and that’s only the beginning. I graduated from J-M in ’06 and in a few weeks will be starting my junior year at Kent State. As a Social Studies Education major this issue is one I feel strongly about. Anyone who works in a school system knows you aren’t in it for the money, nor the vacations. If you don’t love working with students you won’t last for long. This issue will get ugly. Everyone will argue why they should stay and the board should cut someone else. But, can we blame anyone who will fight to keep the job they love?

So, what happens to J-M now? I get a sense, after this levy failed, those who campaigned for the school are feeling burned out. I’ve heard some say, “The community doesn’t want a school? Let’s give it to them. Maybe they’ll realize the consequences of not having a school in the community.” However, that will hurt the teachers who inspired me to become one of them. It will hurt the cooks, bus drivers, janitors; those who I got to know and respect. It will hurt the students, who are being slandered by the people spear-heading the no vote. You may think you can say whatever you want, but libel and slander are not protected by the 1st amendment. For instance, I know the J-M Academic Team beat Newton Falls, Western Reserve, and Fitch (schools that presumably have a better education than the one J-M offers). They also finished 5th in the county tournament, the team’s best finish in 14 years of competing. I know the band has been receiving superior ratings at state contest for more years than I can remember. I know the students, along with Mr. Tomaino, will put on a fun and enjoyable play every winter. The students are going to need their advocates more than ever, they will be the ones hurt the most, if their advocates decide to throw in the towel. Now is not the time to give up, as Thomas Jefferson once said “In matters of style, swim like the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock.”

JOHN TIMMER

North Jackson

Vote no on closed meetings

EDITOR:

As a resident of Boardman Township for 45 years, I would be remiss if I did not comment on your editorial of July 27.

Boardman trustees insulted the intelligence of the voters of this township with their closed meeting.

I agree that any discussion of a 2-mill levy should have been with the voters in attendance at the meeting. Instead, they waited until the voters left.

The trustees of Boardman Township should receive an resounding no vote on this levy because of the way it was proposed.

I will be more than glad to support any levy as soon as these trustees resign. This township deserves better.

JOHN R. COLLINS

Youngstown