Rossford: Levy, test scores, pep rallies spark parents' questions
10/6/2004The proposed levy was at the forefront in the minds of some parents whose children attend schools in the Rossford Exempted Village School District last week, as officials fielded questions on it, as well as proficiency test scores and pep rallies during the district's quarterly superintendent's forum.
The forum serves as a medium where school officials can tell parents what's going on in the district and parents can voice their concerns and get some answers.
The district is asking voters to approve a 2-mill continuous capital improvements levy on the Nov. 2 ballot - the same levy that failed Aug. 3 - to improve and maintain its facilities. It would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $61.25 a year.
Superintendent Luci Gernot said the district plans to call parents at home to inform them about the upcoming levy and to squelch any rumors about what the district's plans are for the funds. She said the district also plans to send out a brochure outlining the goals it wants to accomplish with levy money, projected costs for repairs at schools, and what the facilities may need in the future.
Rossford resident Brenda Schwind, who has children in high school, asked Ms. Gernot what the plans are for the school facilities if the levy fails. Ms. Gernot replied that the district will need to carefully consider what improvements are needed the most and will have to reserve some funds for repairs.
"We're gonna have to go with what's most necessary for the safety of the kids," Ms. Gernot said. "You go with what breaks and what's the most immediate needs."
Ms. Gernot said she is optimistic about the passage of the levy and attributes its failure to summer apathy.
Parents mentioned problems with the academic intervention program, pep rallies at the high school, and proficiency test scores.
Rossford resident Sharron Waclawski, who has children in elementary school and high school, said she was concerned with whether the intervention program was being used for what it was intended for, which is for students to get help from teachers first thing in the morning. Ms. Gernot said although it is sometimes used for school meetings and pep rallies, she believes the students use the program effectively because some have after-school jobs and can't stick around to ask for help.