by
Mike Scinto
Voters in the Tipp City School District will be asked to approve two levies in November. The Board of Education voted unanimously to seek renewal of a permanent improvement levy and the renewal and increase of an emergency operating levy. The permanent improvement levy would be for 2 mills for five years, generating around $680,000 a year. The three-year emergency operating levy would be 9.95 mills, renewing, 7.57 average millage for $2.7 million already being collected annually plus an increase to generate another $1,015,280 annually. District officials agreed in July to pursue the levies package instead of splitting them into separate requests proposed for November and next spring.
Some brave souls who read my columns have even snuck by my home and crammed anti-levy propaganda in my mailbox and front door. It talks about everything from Dr. Kronour’s management to how moneys haven’t been spent in the most efficient manner. It’s really the typical anti-levy assault every district encounters when the school board asks for money.
If you are one of the folks who dropped it off, please know that it went straight into the large receptacle that’s emptied into that big truck on Monday mornings and then crushed. I don’t even read them. Save your paper.
You see, I have a policy; I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER vote against a school levy. I believe that those who do are tantamount to child abusers. If I had the power, those who campaigned against them would be flogged on the town square. Lucky for you we don’t have a town square. When levies fail, the students are the ones who suffer. And they had nothing to do with the problem, or perceived problem.
I have covered school boards as a journalist and a talk show host, volunteered for school boards, known school board members as friends and interviewed those representatives over the years. Some are excellent leaders, some are power-hungry citizens, some are very open to public input and some, quite frankly, don’t want to be bothered by citizens. But you know what? They all had one thing in common; they were all elected to office and could all be voted out of office……and some were. None that I am aware of had a lifetime appointment to that board seat.
In virtually every district I’ve encountered, monthly school board meetings are attended by the board members, individuals receiving awards or contract extensions, local newspaper reporters and a couple of community activists. You could fit everybody in the meeting room in a mini-van. If there is such a concern about how money is spent and programs are handled, why aren’t the parents and citizens in the audience to watch, listen and ask questions? And the last time I checked, the law said (as did board policy) that you can see the books any time you want during regular business hours. But how many whiners bother?
Every time a levy or bond issue shows up, the anti-levy crowd crawls out from under its “No New Tax” billboard. It actually gives them meaning in their lives. I wish they’d get real hobbies……or real lives!
If I sound a bit harsh it’s because I feel that way. As I said, I believe a thumbs-down vote is an attack on our kids who are merely innocent victims. If you are really bothered by the school system spending, give up a day a month and attend board meetings and speak up. Take some time to look over the books. If you are at odds with the Superintendent, who serves at the Board’s pleasure, or board members themselves, deal with it from that angle. Let the members hear from you. They’ll listen. And if you still aren’t satisfied, campaign to put in a board that will think and act like you……or run for a seat yourself. That’s the sensible, responsible way to do it. Don’t deprive our students when all they’re trying to do is get a top-notch education.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Scinto is a Radio Talk Show Host and hosts the longest running show in Southwestern Ohio. You can catch him weekdays from 12:00 noon until 2:00 PM on 1210-AM. Mike is a regular guest host on the national Mike Gallagher Show and is a contributor to cable’s Fox News Channel. You can visit http://myspace.com/mikescintoshow or email mike@themikescintoshow.com. You can also reach Mike by calling 937-506-4288 and visit his blog at http://mikescinto.blogspot.com .
.jpg)
++.jpg)
