2008 Woodie Awards
Failed levy facilitates discussion of options
Chau Nguyen
Issue date: 11/13/07 Section: Front Page
A failure to pass Issue 16 in last week's election suggests that Talawanda is not together regarding the need for new schools in the district.
With 65.79 percent overall, voters rejected the levy, which called for the renovation of elementary schools and the construction of a joint high school and middle school on U.S. Route 27.
"The voters spoke pretty decisively that once again, they don't want to build new schools and they don't see the need for it," said Rob Rollins, Miami University management instructor and co-chair of Talawanda Together.
While Oxford voters overwhelmingly supported Issue 16 at the polls, the levy failed to pass in precincts located in Hanover, Reily and Milford-the outlying townships belonging to the Talawanda School District.
Out of the 13 Oxford polls, the levy was passed by more than 50 percent of voters. In Hanover, Reily and Milford polls, however, the levy was opposed by 78 to 94 percent of voters.
"It's shocking that people voted that heavily against it," Rollins said. "I don't know if we've learned enough yet about how bad the schools are. I think a lot of the people who voted (against the levy) haven't been to the schools."
According to James Brock, a Miami economics professor and Oxford resident, the vote distribution points to a divide within the district that began when those townships and Oxford were consolidated to form one school system 50 years ago.
"The latest outcome of the school levy vote continues the pattern that has existed in this district for 50 years now," Brock said. "In 50 years, no school levy has ever been passed in any one of the outlying areas in the school district."
Talawanda superintendent Phil Cagwin said he believes the disparity between the townships within the Talawanda School District is a legitimate concern.
"Simply because our district is so large, many of our citizens don't live near Oxford," Cagwin said. "It's difficult communicating to the people who do not have kids in our school, who live in the boundaries of our district. Sometimes they don't understand the financial implications of not supporting our public schools."
With 65.79 percent overall, voters rejected the levy, which called for the renovation of elementary schools and the construction of a joint high school and middle school on U.S. Route 27.
"The voters spoke pretty decisively that once again, they don't want to build new schools and they don't see the need for it," said Rob Rollins, Miami University management instructor and co-chair of Talawanda Together.
While Oxford voters overwhelmingly supported Issue 16 at the polls, the levy failed to pass in precincts located in Hanover, Reily and Milford-the outlying townships belonging to the Talawanda School District.
Out of the 13 Oxford polls, the levy was passed by more than 50 percent of voters. In Hanover, Reily and Milford polls, however, the levy was opposed by 78 to 94 percent of voters.
"It's shocking that people voted that heavily against it," Rollins said. "I don't know if we've learned enough yet about how bad the schools are. I think a lot of the people who voted (against the levy) haven't been to the schools."
According to James Brock, a Miami economics professor and Oxford resident, the vote distribution points to a divide within the district that began when those townships and Oxford were consolidated to form one school system 50 years ago.
"The latest outcome of the school levy vote continues the pattern that has existed in this district for 50 years now," Brock said. "In 50 years, no school levy has ever been passed in any one of the outlying areas in the school district."
Talawanda superintendent Phil Cagwin said he believes the disparity between the townships within the Talawanda School District is a legitimate concern.
"Simply because our district is so large, many of our citizens don't live near Oxford," Cagwin said. "It's difficult communicating to the people who do not have kids in our school, who live in the boundaries of our district. Sometimes they don't understand the financial implications of not supporting our public schools."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Erin
posted 11/13/07 @ 1:01 PM EST
The outlying areas of the school district did understand issue 16 and that's why we voted 'no.' Asking for 4.8 mils for 28 years for a $65,000,000 high school is absurd! Why didn't you point that out in your "Talawanda Together" propaganda? How can you justify that Talawanda, which has a decreasing enrollment, deserves and needs a $65,000,000 school? Even if enrollment was increasing, $65,000,000 for any rural area school is ludicrous. (Continued…)
An interested observer
posted 11/13/07 @ 3:01 PM EST
The people who live in outlying areas not only care just as deeply about education, they also completely understood the information presented about the levy. (Continued…)
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