Best for Parkman
Recently there was an article in the Maple Leaf about the Parkman fire levy. The article was mostly correct, but some items were perceived to be very wrong.
First, this is a 5-mill continuing levy, not a 5-year.
Second, and most off, is that the levy is $175 per $100,000 of tax evaluation not $61.25. Tax evaluation is 35 percent of market value. A home with a market value of $100,000 would be a tax evaluation of $35,000 and the tax would be $61.25 per year.
We are definitely open to discussion and hope our residents come to a meeting to air their questions and concerns. Our meetings are the first and third Tuesday of every month, and we will be available for any public input.
We will be available on Jan. 7 and 21, and Feb. 4 and 18 at Parkman Community House at 7 p.m. for meetings.
I just wanted to set the record straight and do what is best for the people of Parkman. We hope everyone has a merry and safe holiday season. Thank you.
Roger Anderson
Chairman, Parkman Township Trustees
A Child is Waiting
During this time of year we especially treasure time with our families. Some kids don’t have that. If you would consider becoming a foster parent and changing a child’s life, call Job and Family Services at (440) 285-1224 and ask for Amy Buresch. Find out what it’s all about. A child is waiting!
Pat and John Leech
Former foster parents
Munson Township
Opposed to West G Grade Leveling
We are West Geauga parents adamantly opposed to grade leveling Lindsey and Westwood schools.
On Nov. 26, 2019, elementary school parents were notified by superintendent of West Geauga school district, Dr. Rich Markwardt, that he was reviving a 2016 proposal — withdrawn at the time because of parent opposition — to grade level elementary schools in West Geauga to take effect in the 2020-2021 academic school year.
This email caught West Geauga parents off-guard because recently elected school board members never told voters this was a possibility.
The claim is that grade leveling the two schools will improve academics, but we believe that spending money to make changes to the schools at this point is wasting taxpayer money when the district’s five-year goal is to build a central main campus for all schools with grade leveling at that time.
Furthermore, this change to the schools will result in longer bus rides for elementary school students — up to an hour each way or more.
In the coming year, there will be many changes going on in the West Geauga district as Newbury becomes part of the West Geauga school district. Why do we need even more uncertainty and disruption in the lives of our young elementary school children? What these children need at this point is stability.
During meetings with elementary school parents at Westwood and Lindsey, parents told Markwardt that spending additional money now to grade level elementary schools would motivate voters to vote against a bond issue needed to finance the centralized campus idea. His response was that voters have already made up their mind on the bond issue, so the issue of the grade school leveling doesn’t matter. That statement is untrue. In fact, a recent poll in a local newspaper demonstrated that a two-thirds majority opposed the grade school reconfiguration. If the school board and Markwardt spend money unwisely now, how can they be trusted to be prudent with tax dollars later for a much bigger and more important project?
The school board has set a meeting for Friday, Dec. 27 at 8 a.m. to discuss the topic of grade school leveling. Of course, many people will be unable to attend the meeting due to holidays. As well, there will be no community input permitted. Talk about lack of transparency.
Timothy and Melissa Botti
Russell Township
