Letters to Editor
History of Tremendous Value
Nothing is more important to the success of our society than educating the next generation.
At a time when our local schools are burdened with more and more unfunded mandates while simultaneously suffering reductions in state funding, this solemn responsibility to fund education has become more crucial and local than ever.
Despite the challenging environment schools face these days, the Kenston schools have continued to excel by providing a quality education to students with a concurrent commitment to responsible, prudent financial management.
Amazingly, it has been 10 years since the residents of the Kenston Local School District were last asked to vote for a school levy. This type of accomplishment doesn’t happen by accident. By employing numerous cost saving measures such as closing Gardiner School, refinancing bonds, cutting budgets and implementing pay freezes for staff, Kenston has extended the life of the last levy well beyond what was thought possible back in 2005.
But it’s not 2005 anymore. It’s 2015 and inflation, new state mandates, state funding reductions, an ageing district infrastructure and increased technological needs have had an impact.
These combined pressures have made it necessary for the school district to ask the residents of Bainbridge and Auburn to show their support by voting in favor of a 4-mill operating levy and a $10 million capital improvements bond issue for the Kenston schools.
Kenston has a history of providing a tremendous value to the Bainbridge and Auburn communities. Through a combination of concerned, involved parents, dedicated faculty and staff and outstanding administrative leadership, Kenston has always provided students with a quality education and residents with an important foundation for sound property values. All this, while spending less per student than many Northeast Ohio school districts of a similar caliber.
Kenston has truly served the residents of Bainbridge and Auburn townships well. Quality public education is an investment in our children, our community, our future and ourselves.
On May 5, I urge you to continue to support quality education at Kenston by voting yes on It’ssue 2.
Mike Kramer
Bainbridge
New Image for Geauga
We were in attendance on March 24 when the Geauga County Commissioners voted down the motion to join Geauga Growth Partnership.
In our memory, this is the first time that Geauga commissioners have made such a decision. Not only does such action save taxpayers $2,500, but also removes any hint of impropriety or collusion with reportedly well-funded groups that are not involved with county administration or governance.
We believe the commissioners have chosen to send a clear and proper message. The commissioners and we do not condone membership initiatives that apparently utilize hard-sell methods to convince small businesses owned by Geauga minorities that they cannot be successful without membership in Geauga Growth.
We are pleased by the commissioners’ willingness to act on principle and integrity by not “going along to get along.”
Tom and Diane Jones
Auburn Township
Unless Necessary
Trapping beaver in Geauga Parks will eliminate wetlands so vital to our wildlife (heron, frogs, turtles, ducks, etc.) and to us.
Also drowned in these traps are river otters, mink and muskrats.
No one should use any kind of trap in Geauga Parks unless determined to be absolutely necessary by park naturalists as part of an approved wildlife management plan.
Pat and John Leech
Newbury Township
‘Kenston Experience’
For nearly 10 years, I have had the privilege to serve on the Kenston Board of Education. This has enabled me to be thoroughly immersed in all facets of the “Kenston Experience.”
I?can promise you, it is first-rate and exciting to witness.
Your Kenston has been a remarkable steward of tax dollars — not asking for an increase for 10 years — unheard of in levy tenture.
On May 5, we are asking you to approve a combined operating levy and bond issue of 4.7 mills. I sincerely hope we can count on your support.
Vote Yes on It’ssue 2.
Anne Randall
President, Kenston BOE
Troubling
I find it extremely troubling that the Geauga Park District reduced the Sap’s-a-Rising Sundays from three or four as in the past to only two this year.
I was informed that it partly was because of the cost of the horse team that they decided to use this year to collect sap. However, they have no problem with spending close to $100,000 for a play ground at Headwaters Park that will see limited use, I’m sure.
They also had planned to spend the same amount for a playground at Frohring Meadows until the judge suggested that it was inappropriate.
Stan Piekos
Newbury Township
Birds of Prey
On March 29, I had the privilege of attending a program put on by the Protect Geauga Parks. Harvey Webster of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History gave a talk on the American Bald Eagle.
Mr. Webster really does know all about the great eagle. What a wonderful and informative talk he gave. If you have the chance and see this program anywhere, you really must go and see it. He not only tells you about the birds, but keeps the talk informative and humorous as well.
Mr. Webster has had the experience of hatching and watching the eagle grow into a healthy baby chick that could be released into the wild by placing the chick in an eagles nest. With pictures and his knowledge you will walk away with the warm and fuzzy feeling of having a real education of the eagle.
In his talk he told us about one of the killers of any prey bird such as an eagle, hawk or even water birds for an example. When hunters go out and shoot with the shot that has lead in it, this is lethal to any bird that ingests the pellets left over.
If they are in an animal such as a deer or water fowl that has been shot and then a bird of prey comes and feeds off of this animal and ingests the lead, the bird will die.
I would like to hope that any hunters in the Geauga Parks would be knowledgeable enough to not use lead ammunition any longer. Killing an animal by shooting it is one thing, but if it is not picked up and a bird of prey finds it that is another matter all together.
Save our wild life and do not kill for sport in our Geauga Parks.
Joy Keco
Bainbridge Township
Hypocritical?
I’m writing in defense of the Geauga Park Board against John Leech’s recent letter to the editor opposing hunting in the county parks. His opinion as stated in that letter appears to be hypocritical to his own actions during his tenure on the county Park Board.
According to public record, the Park Board first approved hunting in the county parks in 2007-2008, when Judge Chip Henry had judicial oversight over the Park Board and while Mr. Leech himself was a member of the Park Board.
Mr. Leech made several motions advancing hunting on county park property and consistently voted to permit hunting in the Geauga County Parks from 2007-2012. In fact, throughout that time, all of the board’s votes to allow hunting in the parks were unanimously approved by Mr. Leech, Mrs. McCullough and Dr. Rzeszotarski.
Of course, it’s incumbent upon the Park Board and the Park District Staff to abide by any land restrictions, but considering that Judge Henry’s board appointees, to include Mr. Leech, understood that controlled hunting in the Geauga County parks by Geauga County residents is a valuable and necessary game management program, it’s illogical that Mr. Leech could complain about the program continuing today.
Though people are entitled to have a change of heart or mind over time, this flip-flop seems more like a targeted attack based on some personal agenda rather than a sincere concern about Geauga’s parks.
By now, Geauga County residents must be growing tired of the constant baseless attacks and frankly, propaganda, against the volunteer Geauga Park Board members who are trying to do their jobs to fulfill the Park District’s mission to not only “preserve, conserve and protect the natural features of Geauga County,” but also to “provide outdoor recreational experiences to our residents.”
Kim Laurie
Probate Court Liaison to GPD Board
