It is past time (by Bob Robinson)

Eighty votes.

I wonder what it would have taken to get just a few more people to decide that the safety of our kids is more important than the few extra dollars a month they’d have to find somewhere in their budget. A “yes” instead of a “no” 41 times would have done it.

Only 80 votes kept the district from passing a bond issue that would have taken fifth through eighth graders out of South School and the Junior High and moved them into a new facility on North Ohio Street.
Supt. Susie Riegle said it’s not over until the fat lady sings… there were what, 136 or so provisional ballots that still had to be verified and counted?

I don’t see it happening. Once again, the people have spoken.

To those who honestly had nowhere to find the dollars, I understand. And I understand the hardship they would have experienced if the voters had said yes. Been there done that.

To those who were more interested in punishing the District, the Board, the teachers union, the administration – or just keeping those dollars in their own bank account – than they were the safety or comfort of our future generations, I have a question and a challenge.

Question… have you toured South School? If not, why not? I would be interested in seeing if – after touring it – you think it is a safe, comfortable learning environment for your children, grandchildren or other young people important to you.

I find it hard to believe that anyone who has toured the school would vote to keep our children there.
Okay. So much for that. The people have spoken. So now what?

Challenge… To those who voted against the bond issue, what is your alternative? What do you suggest?
Most, I’m sure, will have no clue. They simply wanted to express their displeasure with the campaign, the District, or whatever.

Sometimes in our displeasure we forget the innocent victims.

Others – the ones who actually gave a reason – often fell into the category I once inhabited. Fix the place up!
I have been told the cost of refurbishing, remodeling and bringing the schools up to speed would run about the same as building a new school. The big difference, of course, is that Big Brother won’t return any of our money to us for refurbishing and modernizing. We’ll have to foot the entire bill ourselves.

I’m sure that those who won’t cough up $10 a month for a new school will be happier to shell out $15 or $20 a month for two old ones. A matter of principle?

One gentleman, whom I consider a friend, is one of those critics. We agree on many things… we have agreed to disagree on this one. He, along with some of his friends, once told me the retired business community had the skills, know-how and resources to “fix” the courthouse. They were even willing to work for free.

Their offer was not explored by our elected officials.


This same gentleman said recently that South could be fixed up for a fraction of the cost of the new building. I’d like to suggest that this offer be made to the school district.

If they can actually deliver on it, I’ll be a happy camper. I never wanted to see that historic building go away in the first place. I don’t believe the Junior High is unsafe but it can be extremely uncomfortable, and they both need to be brought into the 21st Century.

Our children are smart and talented and some of Greenville’s programs, like Wavaires and Auto Tech, are nationally recognized, but these kids also need the educational tools to compete in today’s rapidly changing world.

All of this is whistling in the wind for now. The “people” have said “no” for the third time and we still have hundreds of students in two uncomfortable buildings; several hundred of them in an unsafe building.

The voters say they’ll have to live with the discomfort. I refuse to accept living with a potentially dangerous school environment.

Opening South School to public tours, at least from my perspective, was a double-edged sword. Too many of us have now seen the reality of an overcrowded school that has been pushed beyond its safe limitations.

The cramped spaces, limited access, lack of adequate emergency exits, potential health and safety issues have to be addressed. Now.

The voters don’t seem to understand this. I don’t know what the administration plans for the future, but it now has to take the necessary steps to find safe alternatives for these kids.

It is time to come up with a plan that removes students from South, or at least brings the student population down to a safe level.

In fact, it is past time. Maybe then the voters will get the message.

That’s my opinion. What’s yours?

Bob Robinson is the retired editor of The Daily Advocate, Greenville, Ohio. You can read his comments, opinions and reports at http://opinionsbybob.blogspot.com. If you wish to receive a daily notification of items posted, send your email address to: opinionsbybob@gmail.com. Feel free to express your views.