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Groveport Madison levy campaign gathering steam
(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - April 21, 2009)
School officials feel community enthusiasm about Groveport Madison Local Schools' operating levy is rising.
The levy campaign
"Through the course of the campaign, (campaign workers) have picked up some considerable steam by claiming a couple of historical precedents," Groveport Madison Superintendent Scott McKenzie said at the April 20 board of education meeting.
"First, they've distributed more levy signs than I can ever remember," said McKenzie.
McKenzie noted past levy campaigns issued 300 to 400 yard signs. However, during this campaign, 500 signs were originally distributed, 200 more ordered and placed, and now 300 more were printed and are being distributed.
"By the time this campaign ends, we will have placed over 1,000 levy signs in yards and intersections, over twice the amount ever dispersed for a campaign," said McKenzie.
The second historical precedent the campaign achieved was obtaining a rare official endorsement for the levy from Groveport Village Council and the personal endorsements for the levy from the three Madison Township trustees.
"This is a huge vote of confidence for our district," said McKenzie.
Campaign co-chair Brian Shoemaker said the campaign has "been a great ride."
"We've met great people and we've never slowed down," said Shoemaker. "We always moved forward...I can feel the community pride coming back to Groveport. We need to keep it going, unite the Groveport Madison community, get new ideas, and make it stronger."
McKenzie said a levy rally will be held May 2 at 1 p.m. at Cruiser Stadium at the high school. Also on May 2, from 4-7 p.m., the levy campaign will host an all you can eat pizza party for $9.95 in the high school cafeteria with pizzas provided by Flyers Pizza & Subs in Groveport.
About the levy
Voters will consider Groveport Madison's three year, 9.36 mill operating levy on the May 5 ballot. The proposed levy is a renewal with an increase of 3.9 mills on the existing 5.46 mill operating levy, originally approved in 1996 and which generates $4.5 million annually. The proposed 9.36 mill levy would generate an estimated $7.7 million per year and cost the owner of a $100,000 home an estimated $120 more per year at $9.95 additional per month.
Levy funds will be used to purchase new textbooks, increase the number and quality of student computers, and continue to improve student instruction as well as pupil/teacher ratios.
The Groveport Madison Board of Education has made $1.4 million in cuts and will need to make more if the levy fails.
Other Groveport Madison news
The board approved a resolution allowing students who participate for at least two full seasons in marching band, interscholastic athletics, and cheerleading, to waive the half credit physical education requirement.
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