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Improving Area Public Schools
By the News-Register
POSTED: December 18, 2007
On Friday, voters in Marshall, Tyler and Wetzel counties did what they always do when they are asked to pay slightly higher taxes to support public schools: They said yes — overwhelmingly. In Marshall County, voters approved renewal of a tax levy by a two-to-one margin. In Wetzel and Tyler counties, the margin of victory was ever greater, at more than four-to-one.
As we pointed out in endorsing levy renewal in all three counties, the measures were merely to continue taxes that have been in effect for, on average, more than half a century. Tax rates will not go up as a result of the renewals.
Still, tax rates would have gone down had the levies not been renewed. Voters in the three counties could well have decided that they needed a break in that regard.
They did not — and that says much about the voters and the school systems they chose, again, to support.
For one thing, it says that most of those who voted on Friday believe that having excellent schools is worth paying a few dollars more in taxes. For another, it says that, by and large, most voters believe their school systems are giving them good value for their money.
That mindset is not present everywhere. In East Ohio, for example, voters routinely reject tax levies to support schools. Some of that attitude is because of the state’s failure to reform its system of funding public schools, of course.
Approval of the levies in Tyler, Wetzel and Marshall counties is a vote of confidence in public schools. But it comes with strings attached, as school administrators and teachers are well aware.
Public schools in this region of West Virginia are good, in part, because the public demands excellence from them. Periodically, voters have opportunities to voice their satisfaction — or lack of it — when levies come up for renewal or when school building campaigns are proposed.
That means that administrators and teachers in the three counties cannot rest upon their laurels. In particular, they should be concerned about voters who did not want the levies to be renewed. What are their complaints? Do those concerns have merit? If so, what can be done about them?
Those questions need to be asked in all three school districts. We trust that they will be — and that schools in Wetzel, Marshall and Tyler counties will improve as a result of the process.
As we pointed out in endorsing levy renewal in all three counties, the measures were merely to continue taxes that have been in effect for, on average, more than half a century. Tax rates will not go up as a result of the renewals.
Still, tax rates would have gone down had the levies not been renewed. Voters in the three counties could well have decided that they needed a break in that regard.
They did not — and that says much about the voters and the school systems they chose, again, to support.
For one thing, it says that most of those who voted on Friday believe that having excellent schools is worth paying a few dollars more in taxes. For another, it says that, by and large, most voters believe their school systems are giving them good value for their money.
That mindset is not present everywhere. In East Ohio, for example, voters routinely reject tax levies to support schools. Some of that attitude is because of the state’s failure to reform its system of funding public schools, of course.
Approval of the levies in Tyler, Wetzel and Marshall counties is a vote of confidence in public schools. But it comes with strings attached, as school administrators and teachers are well aware.
Public schools in this region of West Virginia are good, in part, because the public demands excellence from them. Periodically, voters have opportunities to voice their satisfaction — or lack of it — when levies come up for renewal or when school building campaigns are proposed.
That means that administrators and teachers in the three counties cannot rest upon their laurels. In particular, they should be concerned about voters who did not want the levies to be renewed. What are their complaints? Do those concerns have merit? If so, what can be done about them?
Those questions need to be asked in all three school districts. We trust that they will be — and that schools in Wetzel, Marshall and Tyler counties will improve as a result of the process.
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View Comments: | 1-3 | Post a comment
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hellion7002
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12-19-07 6:40 PM
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... And in conclusion, if the school system cannot manage their finances, then possibly they should look into acquiring an independent professional financial advisor who can get the job done and get it done right the first time.
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hellion7002
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12-19-07 6:37 PM
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I voted NO to the levy mainly in part because of the allotment of $500,000 going to educators for eye and dental insurance coverage. That is something that should have been more wisely negotiated into their contract instead of holding out for more. According to a past article, West Virginia teachers earn on average $40,000 annually. Personally, those earnings are not so shabby for individuals who required to work 9 months out the year. Furthermore, with all the surrounding businesses being "partners in education" there should be no need for the educational system to*****out more money from the taxpayer. And finally, if the schools are receiving funding from the state/federal governments by passing these levies, the administrators should stop trying to turn children into panhandlers by asking parents for donations and by making them take part in fundraisers...
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topsie
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12-18-07 12:16 PM
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bummer artical. people vote for schools bcz they want the schools and dont think they have a choice. leves only get shot down by grumpy old *****. how many old ***** are there in your area?
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