J-M board gathers ideas to help get levy to pass

March 14, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Benefits are available even to those with no kids in the schools, one resident said.

NORTH JACKSON — What should be done to persuade more residents to vote for the school district’s renewal levy?

That was a main topic school officials, teachers, parents and others wrestled with at Thursday’s Jackson-Milton Board of Education meeting.

To that end, attendees heard a presentation by Dr. Peter A. Reday, an assistant professor of marketing at Youngstown State University, and two of his students.

Reday, as well as seniors Michael Perri and Ryan O’Nesti, sought suggestions from their audience regarding what will make it more likely the levy, which is to appear on the Aug. 5 special election ballot, will pass.

A five-year, 5.6-mill renewal measure that would have brought about $988,000 annually to the district was defeated in the March 4 primary election. Unofficial totals from the election showed the levy lost by 32 votes. The millage of the August levy has not been determined, Treasurer John Zinger said.

Reday, Perri and O’Nesti said they plan to send out two sets of surveys to residents, the first of which will seek their opinions on what they want from and think of their schools, Reday noted. Those should be mailed later this month, Perri added.

The questionnaires will be sent to both those who voted for and against the levy earlier this month, Perri continued. Information gleaned can be helpful in determining why people on both sides voted as they did. The qualitative analysis also can point to objections of those who voted no, he added.

During the session, the three sought feedback from people on what they see as problems and what they feel can make the upcoming levy’s chances for success greater.

One woman said more publicity should be available for pupils’ achievements.

A man said the levy’s language needs to be more easily understood and that residents must be consistently reminded of its importance.

Another man touted the idea of allowing retirees and others who don’t have children in the district to see the benefits of the schools. For example, they could use school computers, as well as the gym for exercise, he noted.

For his part, Reday suggested identifying and seeking the help of local groups and organizations that favor the levy.

Several board members urged those in attendance to work together to ensure the levy’s passage in August. A few officials warned of negative consequences associated with the last failure, which could include employee and program cuts.

“It’s not just a board problem; it’s a community problem,” board member Bart McGee said. “We all have to tackle this together.”