Dear Editor,

Friends, Neighbors, Teachers, Parents and Citizens of Buckeye Local School District; lend me your ears?

We are at a critical situation in our district. We have an opportunity to receive approximately $23 million in state funds to help us build two new elementary schools and retrofit the high school to accommodate a new wing which will house our seventh and eighth grade students and complete needed repairs. Our share of taxpayer monies will be approximately $26 mill, which is a 6.2 mill bond issue.

We now have seven buildings which generate huge maintenance costs. No district our size can continue to maintain that number of buildings with our current funding. We must do something to remedy this situation. If Issue 3, (the bond issue) passes, we will decrease our number of buildings to 2 Pre-K to 6th grade elementary schools, one in Tiltonsville, and one on County Road #10 between Adena and Smithfield, and a high school/junior high facility at the current location of our existing high school. When completed, this will save the district operating costs and provide energy-efficient learning environments with state of the art technology for our children. Construction would also provide hundreds of new jobs for local trade workers. The second issue on the ballot (Issue 4) is a three year emergency operating levy to keep our current seven schools open until construction is completed for the new schools.

If these levies fail, West Elementary and North Middle School will close this coming school year, and students and staff will be transferred, with the possibility of some staff reduction. In the following years, more schools will close, class size may increase, programs may suffer, more personnel will be lost, the district will be in the red, and the state will be in a position to oversee our district’s finances.

If the bond issue passes and the emergency levy fails, the district will be in the red within one year and will follow their plan to close buildings. If the emergency levy passes and the bond issue fails; the district will implement plans to close and consolidate while likely avoiding state oversight during this time.

A sample of home owner’s cost for a $70,000 home, with the passage of both issues, is as follows: 59 cents per day without Homestead Exemption, for the first 3 years, and 36 cents per day in years after. For those with Homestead Exemption, it will be 38 cents per day for 3 years and 23 cents per day in years ahead. Specific additional information can be obtained from the Buckeye Local Central Office, the county auditor’s office or a member of the Bond Leadership Committee. Citizens are urged to attend informational meetings in their local communities.

Both Issues 3 and 4 need to pass so we can remain solvent, take advantage of state funding (which is previous tax money being returned to us) so that we can ensure that there will be a school district in Buckeye Local’s future. Remember, we cannot change the past, we CAN have an impact on our children’s future.

It’s their future…and our responsibility.

Roger W. Warren

Tiltonsville