[ back ]
Letters to the Editor
(Posted July 22, 2010)
Voters have said ‘no’ twice before
Let’s go back about a year ago when the Madison-Plains Board of Education decided to build one K-12 campus on Linson Road. They decided to have a meeting with the public to get their opinion of one K-12 complex. At that time they wanted to have a vote with the “clickers” to find out what the public wanted. The number of persons at that meeting equaled about 7 percent of the voting population. At that time, there was mixed opinions about the school board proposal. This should have indicated to the board that this idea may not work.
You’d think the board would ask what would work and what voters had in mind, but nothing was asked and if it was, they did not investigate ideas given to them. The only thing they were interested in was the Exceptional Needs money, instead of what would be convenient for the students and their parents.
The same levy has been turned down by voters twice. Now the same levy is on the special election this August.
The board is letting this situation get out of hand with a portion of the voters getting upset with one another. How can we have a No. 1 Community program with all the difference of opinions? The board is telling the voters to “do as we say and like it.” Don’t do that; that is not the way to get things accomplished.
As large as the Madison-Plains District is, the board should make it more convenient for students and their parents. The more convenient it is, the more positive response you will have toward the schools.
When the board removed Fairfield Elementary, that was not convenient for that area. The same happened to South Solon. Now, this is going to happen to the Midway, Mount Sterling and Madison Rural elementary schools.
I am asking the board to go after what they need, not what someone wants. The board needs to stand up for all the voters.
We have in August a levy of $24,950,154.00 (6.99 mills) to vote on for the K-12 building. On July 13, the Madison-Plains board passed a resolution to put a levy on the November ballot for operating expenses.
It has been said over and over: “It’s what’s good for the kids.” Let’s take a 5-year-old child today. This child will be 33 by the time these levies are fulfilled. Is this good for our kids? Will they live in Madison-Plains District or elsewhere?
Let’s look in the future when the present board members and administration have left their positions and a new board and administration has to take over the burden left behind by the present Board. That will be a job no one will want to take on.
I am asking for all the voters to get out Aug. 3 and vote.
Charlie Neff
Mount Sterling
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remember to vote Aug. 3
Citizens of the Madison-Plains School District, remember this date: Aug. 3, 2010.
Real estate taxes have already increased between 50 percent and 70 percent because of the reappraisal of all Madison County real estate in 2008. Remember the extra money from your wallet it took to pay your increased real estate taxes in February 2010 and June 2010. Remember how you felt doling out your hard-earned dollars for extra taxes. Remember, no real estate owner is exempt from the burdensome tax increase from the Madison-Plains bond issue. Remember, you can mark you ballot in secret. No one can discover your vote.
Save our homes. Vote “no.”
Ann and Ben Houser
Mount Sterling
[ back ]
