Monday, January 18, 2010

WHEN YOU THINK SCHOOLS, THINK JOBS (by John Marchal)

To me, the issue on the ballot on February 2, 2010 is much bigger than whether we decide to build a new school in our community. I don’t think it is an overstatement to say that this levy is a fork in the road which presents our community with a fundamental choice about our economic future. Anyone who has lived in our community over the last generation sees the alarming trends. Sheriff Spencer’s annual report confirms what you can plainly see driving down our streets--we have been experiencing record numbers of foreclosures for years. Ask any realtor, banker or appraiser and they will tell you that our property values have dropped 10-15% or more. All are familiar with the names of employers who have shed jobs or left completely--Corning, American Aggregates, Fram/Honeywell, etc. Open enrollment in the school systems and job losses have resulted in class sizes dropping from roughly 300 in my class (1989) to roughly 200 in some current classes.

Like so many other small mid-western towns we are engaged in a battle to bring jobs to our community. Without them, people leave. They don’t buy homes. They don’t help pay taxes. They don’t help you fill the coffers at church. And, they aren’t here to coach your daughter’s softball team. You get the point.

For nearly a decade I have sat on the Board of Trustees of the Greenville Community Improvement Corporation—the body which oversees Greenville’s Industrial Park and attempts to foster economic growth. From that experience, I have realized how fierce the competition is for communities like ours to attract and keep employers. In the past five (5) years, considerable efforts have been made to improve and market our community through the Industrial Park and other means. We have experienced some success. However, we lost over 700 jobs when Corning left and some have estimated that we have lost nearly 2000 jobs over the last 25 years. The fact is, each time our community has been in the running to attract a new employer or keep an existing one, we have competed with many other communities just like us. All these communities offer tax abatements and other incentives to land employers. With the recent state school program, the vast majority of communities in Ohio now have a shiny new school building to go along with the other incentives they offer. As a result, our community is now at a distinct disadvantage in the competition to land jobs. Everyone I know that knows anything about economic development tells me that strong schools are critical to success in the economic development game. I, personally, believe that is true. Unfortunately, our opportunity to “sell” our schools to an employer is limited. Typically, we don’t get a chance to have a CEO talk to residents. We only have a chance to show them the school. And, in that game, perception is reality.

To those of you who are sitting on the fence about the levy, I ask you to support the school. Can I guarantee you that the money you spend on a new school will land new jobs, increase property values and reverse the trends we are experiencing? The honest answer is no. I can’t guarantee it. I believe it to be true and am personally committed to working through the CIC to make the investment in a new school a selling point for our community. I will also point out that recent local economic development measures have been put in place to make the investment in a school a sound one. These changes have demonstrated to me that good people in the private and public sectors have recognized the need to attract jobs to the community and have made economic development a priority. In addition, as a guy facing his 40th birthday, I am asking you to put this 30+ year levy in place knowing full well that the majority of the burden of paying for it will fall on me and my generation. Frankly, it’s our turn and my generation can’t afford not to take on this project now. It’s been two generations since we built a school. The buildings being replaced were built a century ago and those that haven’t collapsed already will soon enough. Right now we have an opportunity to build the school at a 40% discount. If we suffer another serious structural problem, my bet is we will be forced to address the issue on someone else’s terms.

I believe education is central to success. I am convinced that individuals and communities are improved through strong education. That’s the way I was raised. On that basis alone, I will support the levy. However, I don’t expect everyone to see it that way (particularly those hardest hit by the recession) and that’s not why I am asking you to support the levy. Rather, I am appealing to you based on your own economic interest. Even if no one you know or care about attends the new school or you think education is a waste of time, you should support the levy because it is in your economic interest. As I see it, the school construction project is an investment in our immediate and long-term economic future. It comes at price for sure but it is one we cannot afford not to pay. After all, if we are not willing to invest in ourselves and our future, how can we ask someone else to? Now IS the time.

22 comments:

  1. Very well said, and very true. It is the time to support this.
    It is sad that most of the nay sayers who post on this site are those who do not value what a good education can give someone. They probably have lost a job, or home and put the blame on someone else. We all have to look in the mirror - and look hard.
    I will vote YES

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  2. I do like all that is in this message,but I can't let go of the them buying the ground for that much money and then coming out and saying the land they bought wasn't enough for the super school they wanted . I guess with all the back and forth talk hopefully some good does come out of this and what I'm trying to say is it didn't hurt any of us going to school there whats the big change now?

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  3. of course they could keep the Jr. High running business as usual until more of the facade falls off.... during school hours.

    It is a short-term expense; long term investment. No business with money is going to invest in a town that places students in facilities that are older than most people's grand parents.

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  4. That is exactly the mind set that needs to be educated. No past student was "hurt" by the current schools...a new building is needed because of the condition and cost of upkeep of South and the JH. In the long run-a new facility will save the district (and ultimently the tax payers) money. The district can get this building now with available state funds...those won't be there at the end of this year. So, as they say, "get it while the gettin is good".
    Also, that ground was not purchased under Susie Reigel's tenure, and not all of the current board members were seated at that time as well. Do not hold a grudge or "blame" them for what was done more than 5 years ago. OK, so the land is there....let's allow the school to use it for it's intended purpose - a new building.

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  5. You can vote now. Just goto the board of elections and ask to vote for it. Support our students, and support our local economy.

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  6. so they buy land for a ton of money, then come out and say the land they bought was enough for a super school.. then.. realize the land is only big enough to support a 5-7 building.. very smart...

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  7. Use the land anyway...and it WAS NOT this superintendent or school board that did that!

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  8. I haven't heard anywhere that the land wasn't big enough for a "super school". From what I've been told the land will be later used for a new k-4 building....but we've gotta get the oldest replaced first (WHICH ONLY MAKES SENSE). I don't care how you vote but please educate yourself before you do vote.

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  9. ...And when I went to school with the GCS, there were trashcans in the hallways to catch rainwater. Course, bein's from a large fam'ly, that is da' only opportunity I had fer a shower in da' mornin', so I done kinda welcomed knowin' I could scrub me noggin' if it was rainin' in da' mornin'. Picked me up all sort o' toothless chicks durin's my mornin' showers!

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  10. Yes, let's do it for the children. Pass on to the up coming generation the largest tax burden of all history for Greenville City Schools. Show the children that when one group of leaders lead you in the wrong direction the best solution is to continue on knowing very well it is the wrong direction. I know first hand that any new business will look very hard at the tax rate in the community. Yes, they will ask for tax abatements but that comes with many strings attached by all, the city, county and state government officials and yes even the schools.

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  11. Maybe that is why the facade fell because of the leaks in the roof.

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  12. Racer, sometimes you make the stupidest comments. You have no proof that People who have not supported this levy do not value education. I do not support this levy and I do value a good education. Thats why i send my children to another school in darke county. Most comments I have read are against the levy cause of the lack of employment or underemployment here in Greenville. Also, new bricks and mortor does not make a good school system. New companies looking to expand in this area, look at the school system, not just the building.

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  13. The facade fell because of the lack of maintenance. There are buildings in Germany and all over Europe that are older than when the United States was first landed on by the pilgrims.

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  14. Its founded by the pilgrims.Still a very good point.Its not the buildings its the lack of maintnance.

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  15. John - I have never bashed another person on this site in disagreement. I make my comments based on what I believe and what I stand for, as do you. You have no right to publically call me "stupid" when you do not know me at all.

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  16. Go Race - Go! Hey John-go pick on someone else. I don't think that Racer was talking about you, but he makes an excellent point. There are alot of dummies that post on here without being informed. And why do you live in one district and go to another? Now, if that isn't being high and mighty.......
    Now my opinion, although most here probably won't care-I can agree, to a point, with the European buildings still standing, etc. But I also think that all schools do the best that they can with maintance, and sometimes that gets put on the back burner so that something else can be taken care of. I can't think of one school in Darke Co. that does not have maintance issues with their older buildings.
    A new building does not bring jobs, etc. true. But, I believe that this is a good time for Greenville schools to get a new middle school. I'm voting yes.......and I don't have kids in the system...and I don't have a great job. But I think that it will be worth it.

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  17. Racer, I never called you stupid. I said sometimes you make stupid comments. There is a big difference in these two statements. I'm sure their are many who feel i make stupid comments, and thats fine. Jeff Smith, If you must know. I live in one district because of my job, and i send my children to another because it is better than the one we live in. No its not being high and mighty, its called caring about my childrens education and future.

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  18. I don't believe you. There are good things in ALL school districts if you do your work as a parent - your child will succeed and do very well in life.
    Also, saying someone makes "stupid comments" is the same as calling them stupid. Racer is one of the nicest, and smartest people I know. You own him an APOLOGY.

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  19. Jeff you are wrong. Telling someone you made a stupid comment is in no way telling them they are stupid. Very intelligent people make stupid comments all the time, I know i have. I have really never seen your name on here before. So whoever you are Jeff S., I do not owe him an apology. Why not mine your own business. I have to ask, Do you know Racer personly or just what he comments on here?

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  20. That is what is wrong with people these days they take every thing to heart.

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  21. I agree with John H, Jeff S you are a dumbass!!!!!

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  22. I know Race, he's really a great guy-never hurts a fly and really is intelligent to speak to. Notice that he hasn't been making any comments anyplace for the last 4 or 5 days? Way to go, John.
    Sure, we all make "stupid comments", but this is not the place to tell people that. Make your comments-agree/disagree with others... but don't put them down.

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