I am writing in support of the Clyde-Green Springs schools' Aug. 7 levy request. Our community is blessed with an outstanding school system, but the Kasich administration has shown in statements and in action it is willing to see public education fail and see a select few for-profit charter schools succeed. It is therefore our responsibility as taxpayers to protect our community's greatest asset: the minds of our children.
Gov. John Kasich stated in his book he believes our public school system "is beyond fixing" ("Stand for Something," pages 175-178). The Ohio Supreme Court acknowledged constitutional problems with the school funding system as early as 1997, yet our state officials have made scant attempts to rectify the situation since 2002. Kasich has exacerbated the issue by drastically cutting educational aid from the budget and expanding vouchers for for-profit charter schools, all while greatly expanding Ohio's rainy day fund. For our struggling schools, the rainy day is today; in fact, it is a monsoon.
However, I can tell you, after 33 wonderful years of teaching in this system, our schools are exceedingly wealthy in human capital. Our teachers are exceptionally dedicated and our students amazingly talented. What our schools lack is financial support from our elected officials who we trust to protect our interests; and we have no greater interest than our children's education and futures.
Do I think taxes in Ohio are too high? Yes. Do I want new taxes? No. But the hard-earned money we already are paying into the government is redirected to other purposes, not improving the education of our children. And so the governor and Republican legislature have left us with no alternative but to approve the levy to save our schools.
I want to assure voters -not only in Clyde-Green Springs, but throughout Sandusky and Seneca counties - that when I am elected to serve as your state representative, you will have a strong voice for fair and sensible education reform. As a career educator who has dedicated my life to public education, I will show the courage to fight for changes the Ohio Supreme Court deemed necessary more than 10 years ago.
Please help me stand up to those in Columbus who want to destroy our public education system by their promotion of for-profit schools and expansion of school vouchers. By our support of this much-needed levy, we will send a strong message to Columbus our students are not for sale and that we, the voters in the Clyde-Green Springs school system, are in charge of our children's future, not professional politicians.
Bill Young,
Democratic candidate,
88th district state representative
