Letters to the Editor
Standing Up
I am writing about the recent scuffle with juvenile court employees at the Geauga County Auditor’s Office, and in response to a letter to the editor directed toward me back in April from the attorney who handles the juvenile court “help desk.”
First, I wasn’t making “disparaging” remarks in my letter. I was raising questions, most of which were not answered. And, I would like to point out that all the services of the juvenile court come from taxpayers’ pockets. The court budget does not come from the personal incomes of the spenders, except perhaps, from their taxes paid.
I am happy to see people standing up against what I see as a long-term abuse of power in this county and abuse of taxpayer monies and trust. If only people would be as diligent at holding all the juvenile systems in the state of Ohio accountable for wasting money on substandard care, and for refusing to reform the systems quickly enough to easily receive federal matching funds.
Too many people have tapped into the income generated by the status quo, it seems to me.
Robin Neff
Chardon
What Independence Means
This Independence Day will be a special one for Newburians. As we celebrate the holiday that commemorates our country’s struggle to be a free people, and the system of governance that was born from that struggle, let us remember that an exercise in that freedom is waiting on the horizon.
Later this summer, the county Educational Services Center will vote on the decision to transfer our school district to Chesterland. Immediately following their vote, a 30-day window will be opened for Newbury residents to collect 1,500 signatures to put this school issue on the ballot for a community vote.
Some have argued that closing Newbury Schools is progress. I ask how a 100-year-old quick fix procedure (school consolidation) is progress.
Newbury’s school district has over $5 million in reserves. That’s more than half of our operating budget. Newbury is lucky to be so wealthy. Not many other school districts can say they have more than 50 percent of their operating budget in reserve. Having such a large reserve of money provides Newbury with a lot of operating and capital flexibility.
When comparing tax rates, Newbury isn’t that bad. We operate a small district, with a small township population. A small school will always require a little extra from the community.
We are told we will see less taxes by transferring our district, but with Chesterland’s school district proposing new construction of their own new school, how do we know taxes won’t double in 20 years?
The reward of keeping Newbury independent is that we will preserve representative taxation, assure balanced taxes and cultivate a smaller learning community, where our students receive an abundance of inclusivity and student centeredness. Many parents like myself prize this type of school culture.
I’ve spent the last two years researching public education options in Ohio, across the U.S.A. and around the world. I held a community meeting in April at The West Woods Nature Center to share my findings with the Newbury community.
Newbury can do something different. We can move forward as an independent district.
I’ve heard countless excuses why this can’t be the case, but in every instance, the opposite is true. The fact of the matter is, if Newburians wish to keep their school district, which in effect will keep our kids, property taxes, land and assets in Newbury, we can modernize our school building at very little cost and build a niche public school offering that will advance our community into the 21st century.
This Independence Day, I ask that you think about what it means to be independent at the local level. I urge the people of Newbury to please consider signing the Newbury Schools referendum so that we, as a community — we the people — can make the final decision on the direction of our school and our community. Having a vote will allow the community to decide what direction we take for the future.
David Novak
Newbury Township
