Letters to the Editor
Find Help Without Increasing Taxes
As a resident of Hambden Township and also of the Chardon school district, I find myself to be so very confused over the latest attempt by the school board to again lead the public into a huge tax increase with even more increases on the way.
I listen to the words they presented to the public. First of which I could not believe, they reported that trees were growing in the gutters. If this is true, then shame on them for not cleaning the gutters out. I have to clean my gutters and do that without a tax increase.
Windows that don’t open. Where and why don’t the maintenance personnel work on these things?
It appears that a lot of the building issues may have been pushed aside in order to gain sympathy. Why doesn’t the school board take the money they spent on the signs they wasted putting all over the area and fix the windows? And maybe even put in a little elbow grease and help clean those gutters.
I’m sure if they put out a “we need help call” they may be surprised on how many good people can find a little time to help without increasing taxes.
Chet McNabb
Hambden Township
Congratulations Park District
I would just like to publicly congratulate the Geauga Park District for the overwhelming passage of its reduced operating levy renewal on Tuesday (Nov. 5) by a record percentage of votes.
Passage of the levy reflects the satisfaction of the majority of county residents with the county’s parks and the recreational opportunities.
The Geauga Park Board and the park district’s amazing staff, under the leadership of Executive Director John Oros, continue to work hard to preserve, conserve and protect the natural features of Geauga County and to provide outdoor recreational experiences to our residents of every age, every ability and at all times of the year.
Timothy J. Grendell
Judge, Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court
Thank You, Munson Residents
Thank you, Munson residents, for re-electing me township trustee. Thank you to the poll workers and all who were involved in making the process of voting run smoothly. I pledge to work on your behalf for the good of your family, your neighbors and our township.
Thank you to all who carefully read campaign literature and got involved in a myriad of ways in the political process. Thank you especially to my anonymous supporters. Your efforts are heartwarming and make me even more honored that I am serving Munson. Our community is better off with your input and suggestions.
I wish all who were involved in the election process well.
Irene McMullen
Trustee, Munson Township
Proud to Call Geauga Home
On behalf of myself, staff, the Board of Park Commissioners and Judge Grendell, thank you voters of Geauga County for supporting Geauga Park District at the polls on Nov. 5. Issue 23 was passed by 66 percent of voters in the county. Since our inception in 1961, this is our highest level of voter support ever.
We attribute our success in recent years to our goal to make your park lands and the natural wonders of this great county more accessible to you, our residents. Our leadership has ensured commitment to our mission to preserve and conserve high quality natural areas. With your help, we have protected some of the most important plant and animal species in our area.
And we have successfully dovetailed these conservation initiatives with providing new and innovative parks, trails, lodges and recreational amenities. Our naturalist programs and special events are also reaching every age and every ability with new and exciting offerings.
We couldn’t be prouder to serve you and, as a 25-year employee now celebrating 25 parks that are accessible to our residents, I couldn’t be prouder to call myself a resident of Geauga County. We appreciate everything you do to make Geauga Park District successful and look forward to serving you in the future. Get out and enjoy your parks. They are here for you. Thank you for your vote of confidence.
John Oros
Executive Director, Geauga Park District
School Renovation Not the Answer
I want to share this recent exchange I had on Facebook. This question is in response to a September post about my general recommendation to take a tour of the current facilities in which I stated that “renovation is a non-starter.”
Question
Given the result from the recent Issue 21 vote has your opinion changed on renovation versus new? It’s important to understand your constituents and an overwhelming majority voted no on new.
Response
The rejection of Issue 21 does not mean that the community favors renovation over building new facilities. In my opinion, it means different things to different people. Perhaps some favor a different plan for new facilities. Some may not fully know or understand all of the complexities and costs involved with renovating the existing facilities. This problem is extremely challenging and the solution is not simple.
Obviously, the need to address the current failing facilities has not gone away. But no, the answer at this point is not to just move ahead with renovation. A renovation solution would still involve the same high costs, high contingency (for unknowns that will encountered during the project), difficulties with creating temporary education space (i.e., trailers) and, in the end, would result in facilities that still do not satisfy the requirement of current education methods.
The Facilities Advisory Committee will continue its work to devise a plan that meets the education requirements of today and tomorrow. This group consists of concerned Chardon citizens. I would invite you to participate and share your voice and ideas on the direction the district should take.
We do need to consider the concerns of, and seek to have an ongoing constructive conversation, with all of the residents of the district, with the hopeful end result of a plan that a majority of residents can support.
Once the committee comes up with its new recommendations, as a board member I will consider them, as well as input from the community, and make a decision at that point. Keep in mind that I do not actually join the board until next year.
Keith Brewster
Member Elect, Chardon Schools Board of Education
Chardon BOE, Superintendent Have One Goal
The Board of Education has become aware of some misinformation in the community. Here is what you need to know:
When Dr. Michael Hanlon became superintendent in July of 2013 the district was in fiscal crisis after five operating levy failures. By November, we passed an operating levy. We were then catching up — with everything.
Textbooks had not been replaced in more than six years. (Cost of text books for one academic area K-12 is approximately $300,000).
We were facing mandatory state testing that required each student to have access to a computer. We implemented Chromebooks for all students. This was not as simple as buying machines. Wiring and wifi capability had to be installed in the buildings, and staff had to be trained to use them effectively.
In 2015 we began work on our five-year plan, Vision 2020, with input from community members and staff. Completion took several months. It was out of this plan that new buildings were proposed.
Saving money is a constant concern. Having four elementary school buildings was ineffective for teaching and expensive for staffing, maintenance and busing. Reconfiguration was designed to solve these problems. The savings allowed us to add our own pre-school (further reducing costs), to launch all-day every-day kindergarten in 2019, and helped to create our current positive financial situation.
After our last levy, a group of citizens, board members and administrators went to Columbus to meet with legislators to discuss inadequate school funding. Dr Hanlon went further. For the last two years, volunteering his time, he worked with 16 other Ohio superintendents and state legislators Robert Cupp and John Patterson to create a fair system of finance for all schools. The resulting bill — HB 305 — is currently in hearings at the State House.
This board and Dr. Hanlon have one goal: To give our kids the best education we can afford. This means having good teachers, inspiring and hard-working administrators, and a carefully planned and executed curriculum.
In spite of our deteriorating buildings, we continue to be in the top 10 percent of schools in the state, academically. Our sports teams and performing arts groups are top notch. Our students are graduating with honors and going on to colleges, careers and the military.
For the record, Dr. Hanlon has never asked for a raise. He typically doesn’t turn in his mileage when he drives to Columbus to work with the legislature and represent our district. He attends more school events than any other superintendent I’ve ever worked with. This requires countless evening hours for band and choir concerts, plays and sports (at high school, middle school, and elementary levels). He regularly donates to school events and pays for his tickets.
At the October 2019 board meeting, the latest 5-year forecast was presented to the community. Chardon Schools are in the strongest financial shape in more than 20 years. We believe that we will not have to ask for an operating levy before 2024 or 2025. This is not the product of waste and poor leadership.
We are indeed fortunate to have Michael Hanlon as our superintendent. This board and the school staff support him completely. We hope this information clarifies why we feel the way we do.
Chardon Schools Board of Education
Madelon Horvath, President
Karen Blankenship, Vice President
Sheldon Firem
Paul Stefanko
Guy Wilson
Keith Brewster, Board Member Elect
