Questions and Answers about the Levy
From the levy website www.auroracitizens.com. Olive does not have any official answers for you.
Russ Bennett, Aurora City Schools Superintendent, and the Aurora City Schools Board believe it is in the best interest of the school district to be open and honest about questions from any resident of Aurora School District concerning the March 4 levy vote.
Most questions will be answered in the FAQ section. However if there is a question you have that is not listed here, please call Russ Bennett, Superintendent at 330-995-7702; email at rbennett@aurora-schools.org, or Bill Volosin, Treasurer at 330-995-7705; email at bvolosin@aurora-schools.org.
The FAQ will be updated as questions are submitted. Thanks for your interest and support!
What effect does my vote have on the schools?
If you vote no…
- Ohio law prohibits school to operate at a deficit. If the levy does not pass, Aurora Schools will need to reduce costs over the next two years by approximately $1.5 million. In order to achieve a balanced budget through budget cuts the district will need to:
- $850,000 cut from the 2008-2009 school year and another $850,000 for 2009-2010.
- 9 staff positions will be eliminated resulting in increased class sizes.
- Pay to participate in all sports and extra-curricular activities.
- No bus purchase for this year. The school district owns a fleet of 26 buses and replaces 2 per year. A bus is in service for at least 13 years.
- Higher fees for all students.
- No summer school.
- Reduced curriculum and building budgets for supplies and programs.
- Reduced professional development for teachers.
- Programs like International Baccalaureate could be eliminated.
- Clubs eliminated.
- No uniform purchases.
If you vote yes…
- Retain quality teachers and staff and provide them with annual cost-of-living increases, and eventually add faculty and staff to meet an anticipated increase in enrollment.
- Curriculum budget reinstated, update and upgrade curriculum and technology, as well as purchase textbooks and materials.
- Preserve course offerings and advanced education programs, and add elementary foreign languages.
- Summer school reinstated
- Pay for new classroom space and operation costs that go along with it, and begin the process of creating workable drawings for the additions to the buildings.
- Nine rooms at AHS (science rooms and classrooms for teachers who daily travel to different rooms.
- Weight room for school and community use.
- Safety and security measures added to buildings.
- Six rooms at Harmon (special education rooms, science rooms, restrooms and rooms for teachers who daily travel to different rooms; plus new roof, air handlers and HVAC work).
- Two to three new rooms at Miller (special education and preschool rooms plus replace original heating system and install air conditioning in building).
- Clubs, sports and other extra-curricular activities will not be affected.
- Bus purchases reinstated and pay for increased utility and transportation costs.
- Retain funds allocated to general maintenance and repair of aging facilities.
However, it is important to remember that since the first attempt failed, the school district will not start to collect money until January 2009. This still means a negative effect of $2.5 million not collected which will result in some operational staff reduced and some teaching positions vacated by retirements.
Questions and Answers:
Question:
Why do we suddenly have an immediate cut of $150,000, why do we suddenly need to cut $850,000 for the coming school year, and an additional cut for the following school year?
First, it needs to be noted that the projected deficit for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years will be about $1.5 million, or approximately $850,000 per year. The immediate $150,000 cut right after the November levy vote was instituted to soften the blow for a projected budget deficit of $850,000 for the upcoming school year, making it a $700,000 cut instead of $850,000. Since then an anonymous donation of $30,000 has been used to reinstate the clubs and bus stops. If the March levy fails those costs will also have to be considered.
Question:
We got a million dollars from the sale of property, why can’t that money be used to offset the school deficit this year?
The Ohio Revised Code states that when a school district sells property, the funds from the sale can only be used for capital and facility expenses and not for daily operations in the general fund. Therefore, the money from the sale are placed in the district’s permanent improvement fund to be used for building repairs and up keep of district owned property. While the money will help with building repairs, it is only enough to cover fixing the roof on Harmon Middle School.
Question:
If I don’t have children attending the schools, why should I vote yes?
An investment in the school district is an investment in your community. Communities with strong schools have higher property values, and school districts are always looking at ways to be of more service to the community as well, by offering programs and facilities to the residents.
Question:
Has the district tightened its belts enough? Why not just make some unneeded cuts?
The Aurora City School District works more efficiently than many other districts. Right now, the district spends $9113 per pupil. This is far below the state average of $9586 per pupil, and even less than the amount spent in neighboring districts (Orange- $17,518, Solon – 11,125, Chagrin Falls – $10,746, and Hudson – 10,609). This per pupil number includes teachers’ salaries and benefits. Despite this lower per pupil spending, the district has remained an “Excellent†rated district for 7 straight years and ranks 17th in the State. The district has also built Leighton Elementary School, a 12 million dollar project, without added money from the community, and added classroom space at the high school without asking for new money from the community. Administrators are also awarded no-frills contracts and one administrative position, business operations manager, has been eliminated.
Well then in the interest of being open an honest maybe they’d like to tell the residents what the administration and schoolboard know about the governors proposed plan to “fix” the current method of funding the schools as reported in The News Herald on 01/02/2008.
http://www.news-herald.com/sit.....t_id=21849
“If it passes, all districts will provide the same fixed rate of local taxation, 20 mills, exempt from rate reduction factors, with the state funding the difference.”
And the really interesting part, given the PERMANENT status of a portion of the proposed levy..”Local funding contributions would be reduced to 20 mills over six years starting in 2012, while districts would retain existing millage until expiration or elimination by the voters.”
I find it very interesting that Aurora is proposing a PERMANENT operating levy given the proposed solution being offered up by the Governor.
How nice it will be to not have to answer to the voters via levy’s when the money is guaranteed to always be there.
If the operating portion of the levy is made non-permanent and reduced to a level that gets the school out of the red but not in the black by millions (2 mil. not 4 mil) I’ll support it, if not I won’t.
Yeah, sure, let’s wait tor the State Legislature to fix this funding or wait for the constitutional amendment to pass.
We could wait for friggin ever!
The state has been trying to “fix” the funding for schools for over ten years. If you remember, the Ohio Supreme Court stated the current funding was unconstitutional. That was when George Voinovich was still governor. So I wouldn’t hold my breath that anything will be done now – as long as there are term limits, the legislature is too busy worrying about their next job instead of taking care of the business of the residents of Ohio. The funny thing – we already had term limits – we just voted them out of office if they didn’t do their job. So in the meantime, it falls on the residents of each school district to make sure their schools are funded. It isn’t fair, and it isn’t right but until something better comes along – it is all we have.
I for one am happy that at least this time – we know what happens if the levy fails. The previous levy attempt didn’t educate voters so the cuts came as a surprise to most.
Any proposed plan from the state is just that – proposed! Unless we properly fund the school district now the programs will be cut and result in a lower quality of education for our children. At the same time the community will suffer a blow to its most valuable asset.
If for not other reason consider the resale value of your home. Shoudl the levy fail and the schools cut programs (as they must) Aurora will become a less desirable place to move for families of school age children. This removes a large number of potential buyers for homes in the city. The result would be falling home prices.
The constitutional amendment is slated to be on the ballot in November. If it passes, and speculation is that it will, then it goes into effect next year. The same time as the proposed levy.
I don’t plan on moving so the only thing rising housing prices does for me is increase what I pay in property taxes.
Now for the transient folks who have no long term vested interest in staying in Aurora increased housing prices is certainly a good thing, but for people like me it’s irrelevant.
It seems to me someone should be asking the tough questions like, how did the school system suddenly wind up in such dire straights, who’s responsible and why are they not being held accountable? Instead we’ve got a bunch of kool aide drinkers who are willing to believe the sky is falling.
As for suffering a blow to our most valuable asset, I don’t see any deal breakers in that list of what happens if we vote no. In fact I see the elimination of IB as something that SHOULD happen regardless. As for uniforms there was a day when the sports and band boosters would have held fund raisers to purchase new uniforms, now it would seem it’s become an entitlement.
I wonder if sbpaur knows there are 2 proposals to “fix” school funding. And, I wonder if he/she knows which one is really beneficial, or just making blind decisions like I expect. One proposal was constructed by Kirk Schuring and another was constructed by school, community and other politicians. The later is still trying to get signatures to get to the ballot. Either proposal will not fix funding immediately. Plus, the way the legislature has worked, do you think anything is going to happen? Did you know that the Ohio Department of Education is going to have to cut over 100 million from it’s budget over the next 2 years. What are the odds school districts are going to have to pay some of that bill. I know sbpaur thinks IB and the other cuts are harmless. Tell that to the students affected. Why not be proud of the fact we are an excellent rated school district that offers something others do not….and that benefits students. Did sbpaur go to any of the coffees for the levy, or decided to stay anomyous and hide behind a ficticious name to get the real facts. (I sense since everything written is always negative.)
I am proud of the schools. We all should be. No one likes to pay more taxes, but I believe our future is worth it. The schools have managed their money well. Ultimately this community will determine the type of school and community they want…excellent or mediocre. I choose excellent.
I had a chance to visit Chagrin Falls Middle School. What a nice school, it’s new and nice. I was amazed. But what is more amazing is what our school district does with facilities we have. Twinsburg, Kenston, Hudson and most all the other schools near us even Mantua have new buildings.
Our results are neck and neck with Chagrin, and ahead of most everyone else. We compare very favorably with them. Even though our buildings are not the newest, the teachers, administration and parents produce outstanding results.
Our outstanding results make up for the shortcomings. Without appropriate funding, our schools will not attract quality teachers, staff or students. Yes students, people make Aurora their home because their kids benefit from the schools. I don’t want new construction in Aurora but even for existing homes sales, the schools are important and important to the community.
I remember when my oparents moved out of Warrensville Hts. they chose Solon over Aurora because Solon had better schools in the 70s.
I agree with anonymous, mediocre or excellent. C average or honor roll?
Hi I am a high school student at Aurora. I am in a video broadcasting class and we are doing a documentry on if the School Levy passes or not. We are asking if any one would like to help us. We would be interviewing you and getting your opion on the school levy. If you are interested please email me at mjbb-at-roadrunner-dot-com (olive note: use the regular email address format with the @ symbol and a ).( , it has been disguised against spammers)
Thank You
To Anonymous,
Why on earth would I bother to go to the “coffees” for the levy? They were nothing more than rah rah sessions in favor of the levy. Even the supposed open forum was more of the same, people asking legitimate questions but not getting them answered and posing concernes which were dismissed.
As for the solutions I’m well aware of all the options out there not just the constitutional amendments being proposed. If any of the solutions are implemented the Ohio department of education won’t be cutting it’s budget at all. Nice attempt at a scare tactic though.
With respect to telling the students I’d be happy to. They need a dose of reality. The world is an uncaring place and they need to learn that just because they want something or like it doesn’t mean they are entitled to it. If you want kids to learn something valuable teach them to understand the concept of a budget and limited resources, stop convincing them that the world revolves around them and their education. It doesn’t. There are real people that have lived in this community for decades who will be forced to make very difficult choices if this levy passes. How are they any less significant than the kids who WANT but don’t NEED IB?
As for the schools managing it’s money well you miss an important concept. It’s not the schools money, it’s ours and many of us do not believe they have managed our money well at all. In fact many of us think they have mismanaged a significant amount.
Yeah, the kids will have to deal with crabby, bitter people (like you). But childhood is a time for sanctuary from many of the realities of life.
Maybe it wasn’t for you and that is why you are so angry.
The world is not an uncaring place, you just see it that way. you ought to go volunteer in the elementary school’s reading program, the kids might cheer you up.
If you had any idea who I was and what kind of childhood I had you’d realize what a pathetic attempt at a stinging rebuke that was.
But just to play along, the bulk of the construction portion of the levy is slated to be used at the high school (is a weight room really going to provide a sanctuary from many of the realities of life?). Not exactly something that will be impacting the kids in the elementary programs.
The programs most being identified by critics as needing to be cut (IB) are also at the high school. Again, not going to be impacting the kids at the elementary level.
The kids that I’m talking about teaching the concept of a budget and limited resources too are the high school kids. You know, the one’s that need new weight rooms, new uniforms, etc. to provide a sanctuary for them from the realities of life.
While we’re on the subject of providing sanctuary, who is going to provide sanctuary for the elderly folks in my neighborhood who are living on a fixed income and truly can’t afford any increase in their taxes, people like you? Are you going to write them a check to cover the increase in their property taxes or is it safe to assume that you consider them an expendable casualty to getting what you want?
Blah, blah, blah fixed income! Most of us are on fixed incomes or worse. You think i get a raise because my kid needs braces? you think my expenses go down every year? you think i don’t pay my own hospitalization which skyrockets? i don’t get raises, i’m self-employed. Everything has gone up in price especially food, try feeding a family.
Too bad the schools get the brunt of everyone’s frustration with prices of everything. And, the city doubled my income taxes a couple years ago, there was less noise about that election. It’ll be sad day in Greentown if this fails!
Senior citizens– when you had kids in school weren’t you in favor of school levies? Aren’t you glad people passed them back then? It’s not like Aurora is full of droopy-pants delinquents! These kids are better than the kids in many cities!
Old folks just got a homestead exemption increase or something, it will more than pay for the school tax increase.
sbpaur…Hello. I appreciate your willingness to help my students out. Please call me at 330-562-9646 ext. 3649 and leave a name/number so I can get you in touch with the kids in my class doing the documentary. Thank you.
This is just a follow up on AuroraStudent. I am in his group. As stated, we are trying to find people on both sides of this very important issue. Please know that you can remain completely anonomous, you have our word. If you would like to help, contact Mr. Strukel, Myself at jameslerner@aurora-schools.org or my fellow group member at mjbb-at-roadrunner-dot-com (olive note: use the regular email address format with the @ symbol and a ).( , it has been disguised against spammers. Thanks again.
This is just a follow up on AuroraStudent. I am in his group. As stated, we are trying to find people on both sides of this very important issue. Please know that you can remain completely annonomous, you have our word. If you would like to help, contact Mr. Strukel, Myself at jameslerner@aurora-schools.org or my fellow group member at mjbb-at-roadrunner-dot-com (olive note: use the regular email address format with the @ symbol and a ).( , it has been disguised against spammers)
Why don’t the schools ask the city to dedicate the road between the High School and Miller?
The city would then plow it and pay for the upkeep. The district could save money, ’cause it’s in terrible shape and is going to need work.
This is your solution? To pass the costs of a private driveway on property owned by the school district onto the city?
Are you kidding me?
What would possibly be in it for the city other than a lawsuit from some irrate parent who didn’t feel the driveway was plowed in a timely manner?
I have tried to post questions here about questionable spending by the schools in the past and current Ib program. They were no put up because the moderator decided to check them out. It has been at least 2-3 weeks and no post of mine has been put up.
IThere fore urge a No vote on this issue tillt he tough questions can be aired and answered.
I thought the purpose of education was for the teacher as well as the student to seek the truth. I guess that does not apply to the tax payers. It seems that the purpose of this site is to promomote , not question the issue.
Olive replies:
I’ve reread this original comment and can sense your frustration and confusion. that is a copy of a post on the auroracitizens.com website, the official school levy page.
This site is not affiliated with the schools.
Some of your issues were almost 10 years old and happened under a different superintendent.
If you really want answers, call Mr. Bennett then write back with facts. His phone number is 330-995-7702.
I feel the need for this levy stands up to relevant scrutiny. This levy is about the needs of today and the needs of tomorrow not about the past. And not about specific policy and curriculum likes and dislikes.
School board issues should be addressed when the members are up for election. Look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your comments.
“And not about specific policy and curriculum likes and dislikes.”
That’s where you’re wrong, by voting for or against the levies is our only way to be heard with respect to our likes or dislikes. The school board simply rubber stamps what the administration asks for, our only voice is our vote we cannot count on the school board to reign in costs, that is obvious.
As for the need for the levy standing up to relevant scrutiny I would emphatically disagree. I see no need for an additional weight room, foreign languages for elementary students, new uniforms, etc. Some on the current board were around when money was spent on adding a theater and new gym instead of classrooms during the first rennovation. They cannot be trusted to properly manage the money they are given so we will have to do that for them.
I am a parent with 2 students attending Aurora schools and 1 entering kindergarten next fall. Making sure they have a quality education is a very important concern. When we moved here 3 years ago, the #1 thing we were looking for in a community was excellent schools. We found that in Aurora. The schools have wonderful teachers; have received an “Excellent†rating for 7 years and rank 17th in the state in academics, while spending far less than our neighboring top ranked districts.
I am disheartened by the negativity expressed toward the board and administration for not controlling spending. The school property tax millage in Aurora is currently 33.73; lower than Chagrin Falls (47.2), Hudson (46.06), Kent (44.88), Orange (40.02), Solon (39.82), Kenston (39.27), and Streetsboro (34.65). How can we say the schools have not been responsible with our tax dollars? The school board meetings are open to the public, but rarely do any citizens attend to see what decisions are being made or offer direct input to the board. If the citizens of Aurora want to have more control over how their tax dollars are spent, I urge them to get more involved by attending board meetings, running for school board, voting during school board member elections, and contacting our superintendant and board directly. These people are accessible to the public and would welcome community input.
I do sympathize with our seniors on fixed incomes, but our schools have been on a DECLINING income. The state has continually reduced the amount that Aurora has received and local property taxes, which comprise about 70% of school revenues for Aurora, do not rise with inflation. Gas prices, inflation, and other factors continue to drive up school costs. Aurora has not asked for new operating levy dollars since 1992.
Please don’t vote against the March 4th school levy because you are dissatisfied with the board, some teacher or administrator. In reality, a vote against the levy only hurts our children. If the levy fails, we will lose teachers, programs, and as a result our high property values. Please support our children, our schools, and our community by voting YES on March 4th. Our kids can’t vote, but we can vote for our kids!
You realize of course that the effective millage is dependant on industrial/commercial zones as well don’t you? In other words each of those cities you listed have a greater ammount of industry and commercial businesses that help keep down the costs to homeowners than we do.
You moved here three years ago, you don’t know how well managed the system was before you got here. The former treasurer was the reason they haven’t had to ask for new operating money. They run him out of his job and low and behold we now need a new operating levy. They are absolutely doing a poor job of controlling spending and the evidence is in the sudden increase in “replacement” levies and this new operating levy.
Those things aside the school board is misleading the public and the proof is all over the Advocate editorials from last night. “will generate…over 28 years” No mention, NONE of the fact that 2/3’s of that levy is a PERMANENT levy. In addition no mention of the fact that they don’t actually need all 4 mil of the operating portion they are asking for. They only NEED 2 mil of it. Asking for the 4 mil allows them to have a surplus of something like 2.5 million in just 3-5 years. That is an absolute outrage, asking for money they don’t need in times like this.
I would have supported a combined levy of 2 mil for building lasting 28 years and another 2 mil for operating not exceeding 7 years but I will not support ANY permanent levy and I will not support any levy that gives them more than what they need.
I don’t want to hear about how you sympathize with our seniors, you absolutely don’t. You only care about your kids and if some senior has to sell their home to fund your kids education then so be it. Short timers like you make me sick. You move here for the schools and nothing more. I’m disgusted by people like you moving to Aurora and telling us we have to support your childrens education to the detriment of our neighbors of 20 years.
You are not good neighbors, you are nothing more than transient opportunists.
So, if the levy passes, you will sell your house and move?
Yippeee!
To SPBAUR
FYI Read before you write. Then take a breath and calm down. Those other cities have HIGHER TAXES than Aurora and all except Kenston and Orange have more industry. Aurora taxes are lower, even though we have less industry.
And let’s not get into a 562 vs 995 fight. She didn’t attack you.
To agreenman: Not a chance. You will gone from this city long before I will.
To Olive: Check their EFFECTIVE millage rates, in other words what actually winds up applying to homeowners. It has nothing to do with attacking me, she’s attacking people I know by insisting we support her childrens edcation to the extreme detriment of our seniors on fixed incomes. It’s unnacceptable and outrageous to even conceive that seniors on fixed incomes having to sell their homes because they can no longer afford the taxes is somehow justified for a new weight room, uniforms, to support IB or worst of all so the school can have a surplus in the millions laying around. It’s sickening and appalling.
I don’t feel I was attacking anyone, but clearly stating my opinion in an open forum. I think, you, however, are making many false assumptions.
I know that there are many seniors in this community who do continue to support our schools and our community’s children. It is definitely each individual’s right to decide their position on any voting issue, and I respect that right.
Please don’t assume that you have any more right to your vote or opinion than anyone else. It shouldn’t matter how long you have lived here, we are all living here together right now. I am not a “transient”, but have lived in Northeast Ohio most of my life. In fact, as an adult I lived in Aurora for 5 years before moving to Arizona because of a job transfer. When we came back to Ohio 3 1/2 years ago, we looked at many communities before once again deciding on Aurora to raise our family. Our taxes are quite a bit lower than surrounding communities, while our schools are still very competitive.
Let me take a stab here, when you moved back you probably moved into one of the newer neighborhoods and bought a house in the $350,000 to $500,000 range. The development has tons of kids, in fact you probably don’t have any seniors living near you. If you do there aren’t many of them and they are also rather well off. Assuming your house is worth the above you probably pay $6,000 a year in property taxes (which with 3 kids in the system means your net contribution to the school system is roughly a negative $24,000 annually). Not only do you consider that cheap but you can’t understand what all the fuss about the levy is over. After all it’s just another $600-$800 a year so what the big deal right?
The big deal is that I have a lot of seniors that live near me who can’t afford any increase. Folks that I have known for 20 years and who I prefer to continue to have as neighbors. Job transfers are probably a way of life for you, get transferred and move. Simple. The people I’m talking about don’t move for job transfers, they are here for the rest of their lives. You could move tomorrow and it wouldn’t affect you however your support for what in essence is a permanent levy will affect those of us who choose to stay here for the rest of our lives.
You are a transient to Aurora. You are not here for life, if a better opportunity presents itself to your family you’re on the next plane out. You may not think it matters how long you have lived here but it sure as hell matters how long you are committed to staying.
Now if you want to put in writing that you are committed to staying here for the duration of the levy do so and your opinion will actually have some credibility.
My guess, however, is that you aren’t willing to do so.
Wow SBPaur, you sure have a chip on your shoulder and apparently alot of free time! I have lived in Aurora most of my life, graduated from AHS, and now currently live here w/ 2 elementary age children after moving back here FOR THE SCHOOLS! Most people with children have moved here FOR THE SCHOOLS! There is not a week that goes by that the Advocate does not list a housing transaction with an AHS graduate that I grew up with, who now lives in Aurora again….hmmmm,FOR THE SCHOOLS. So, no matter what another family’s long term intentions are, there are an ASTOUNDING number of AHS grads who have moved back,live here now, have kids in the schools and INTEND TO STAY.
I DON’T live in a “newer” neighborhood and we are the youngest family on my street, surrounded by the parents of kids I went to school with…some who live right down the road from their parents in these older homes. These senior parents are also people who will be effected by a tax increase, yet they support the levy. So I AM one of your neighbors of not only 20, but about 35 years, with kids in the system.
There is no one who is excited about having a tax increase, no matter where you live or how well off you are. This tax increase is going to be a strain on my family as well, however, it is worth it, and I don’t see the mils being asked for being put to frivolous spending. We invested in a home here as part of our long term investment in our children’s future.
The crown jewel to living in Aurora are the schools, so for someone so who seems so engrossed in the details of the system, I would think you could appreciate all of the GOOD that has been done for 15 years without an increase and without effecting your taxes. The schools were good when I attended, but now they are state of the art excellent, and all of this was accomplished without a tax increase since then. If you don’t agree with the IB program or other issues where you feel money is not being spent properly, take it up with the board at a meeting, or when they run for re-election, but don’t penalize our kids for it. Support the levy on March 4th – as the long time resident you claim you are, you KNOW why this is important.
Waiting until they all come up for re-election isn’t an option, by then the damage will be done. These kids have it a hell of a lot better than I did (and for the record I’ve lived in my current home for 20 years but have been a resident of Aurora a LOT longer) when I went here. Ammenities that we never dreamed of. We didn’t have a weight room, new uniforms, foreign languages in elementary school or a parallel program to AP and yet somehow against all odds a lot of us managed to go to college and get good jobs. Gosh, I wonder how we ever managed.
What I KNOW is that we have a manipulative administration and school board who, in my opinion, have manufactured a supposed crisis through negligence and/or incompetence.
If you want to support those types of people that’s up to you. I want no part of them. I don’t believe them and I don’t trust them to spend my money appropriately. They are already asking for more than they need and everyone knows it. That alone speaks to their credibility, or lack therof. Trying to push through a PERMANENT levy is the icing on the cake.
I am a little surprised how angry everyone is getting. I realize this is a volatile issue but I think that everyone can express an opinion without personally attacking others. I don’t think it matters if you live in a $500k home or a $150k home. All have a right to their opinion. I think it is wrong to assume if you are against the levy that you are uninformed or do not have children in the schools. It is just a difference of opinion and a difference in how people feel their tax dollars should be spent. Certainly adults can disagree without being disagreeable.
I also do not understand how it is that nearly everyone on this forum supports the levy but it failed in November.
In response to you last paragraph. Many of the negative comments have been in my opinion full of mis-truths and innuendo. They have not been relevant to the upcoming levy. They have been excessively mean. Some seemed to have an ax to grind. And since i expect posters not to attack each other, i’ll leave it at that and lead by example.
I have chosen to moderate comments and not post some items. This is my prerogative per the terms of service and terms of posting. Some of the posters have reposted their remarks in a more civil way, and they have been posted.
I have posted about this several times. I am not affiliated with the schools. I AM IN FAVOR OF THE SCHOOL LEVY, I feel that they have illustrated the needs, and my own knowledge of the schools firsthand thru my children reinforces this. The truth and the support and the is STRONGER than the criticisms.
If you look on Oliveaurora i think there is a more broad support of the levy and more individuals who support it. The ones against it are the same ones over and over. I would hope they go to the meeting and get the info straight from the horses mouth. But I don’t think they want answers, they just want the levy to fail, and will say anything to that end.
This blog existed a year and a half before the levy. There are other topics here too. I really think people ought to look at the City Master Plan which is up for a vote, and other community/city issues too.
I’m astounded as I read the postings. The anger is amazing. I agree, no one wants to pay more in taxes and in reality, we are all on fixed incomes. We all have only such much money and it comes down to where our priorities are. To invest in the future of children who live in this community now and in the future sounds like a no brainer. I’m sure the bulk of the people who have been posting the against the levy comments attended public schools. People in their community felt that they were worth the investment. As the niece of a man who was a Clerk Treasurer for a school district in Central Ohio – I can tell you the scrutiny a school district receives from the state auditors is amazing. They go over every item and every penny needs to be accounted for – as they should to protect the public investment. The people with Aurora schools are not being fast and loose with the money. They are trying to squeeze as much out of each and every dollar they receive. Just as we are all facing increased costs for utilities, food, health care and gas – so are the schools and on a bigger scale.
If you aren’t happy with the choices that the board makes – go to meetings and voice your displeasure or here is a novel approach – run for office! Be willing to put your neck out for you believe in.
And regarding how good the kids have it – I graduated from high school 30 years ago and the school I attended had its own version of AP coursework, uniforms taken care of by the athletic department and foreign languages – in fact, we had a better selection than Aurora does now. The problem with today, kids are competing against kids across the world instead of the other side of the country. The decline in jobs is going to make it difficult for these kids to have the future that many of us have been able to have. And let’s not forget the fact that when all of us baby boomers retire – it falls on this generation to help support our retirements through Social Security.
We moved to Aurora 11 years ago because of the schools. We looked at other communities in the area and felt our children would receive the best possible education here. We moved onto the family farm – a farm that has been in my husband’s family since 1813. And sbpar, we were the first family to live here in over 70 years. That means in that period of time, the property taxes on the property were used to educate other people’s children.
I’m not happy with the thought of increased taxes and to be honest, I would have preferred the board deciding to split the levy into two items – one for operations and one for additions – but that isn’t the choice. But I feel strongly that the education of a child is the greatest gift we can give. Therefore, I will vote yes for the levy and hope others will do so as well.
I believe that this website is supposed to be a free exchange of ideas. Unfortunately when others don’t agree with sbpaur he or she resorts to name calling. Calling someone transient and an “opportunist” because they have a differing opinion from you is out of line. Just because someone has not lived in Aurora for 20 years does not make them a bad neighbor. Sometimes it is helpful to have new blood moving into the areas so progress can be made. Unfortunately you sound bitter and I believe you have a hidden axe to grind.
Ah there it is, anyone who doesn’t believe we should blindly raise taxes permanently obviously has a hidden agenda. Couldn’t possibly be that I honestly believe that the administrators and board have wasted significant amounts of our money on project that weren’t essential and would like to waste significant amounts more.
There it is llgem, you got me. My hidden agenda is that I don’t want to ultimately be taxed out of my home in old age just to pay for the educations of the children of people who have no long term commitment to Aurora.
What makes people bad neighbors is only considering what they want for themselves and their families and not how it might negatively impact others. What makes people bad neighbors is not seperating a levy into it’s two actual parts so that people have a real choice and aren’t forced to accept only what you offer as the solution. What makes people bad neighbors is asking for more money than you need so you can fund non-essential programs that MANY people don’t agree with.
So now that the levy passed how are you going to monitor what the school spends the money on?
Who will go to a meeting? Will they be televised? will agendas be available online early ?
It seems like the board is back to business as usual.
or is that just me?
Can’t the schools fix their parking lots and sidewalks? Will it take a fall and a lawsuit to get them to notice?
And where is the telivisied school board meetings. We got duped by the board to vote for the levy, it’s back to the same old, same old.