Rossford school board leaders field questions about November levy

9/21/2010

A night after a citizens group opposed to a building plan for the Rossford school district held its second town-hall style meeting, board President Brian Hughes said he welcomed the discussion — as long as people stick to the facts.

After fielding numerous questions about the 5.99-mill bond issue on the November ballot at Monday night's school board meeting, Mr. Hughes said citizens have a right to free speech and he welcomes the discourse, but said where he disagrees with free speech “is when people spread disinformation.”

A good example, he said, was a question posed by one resident about a rumor she'd heard that 65 district employees would be laid off if the building plan is approved by voters. The plan calls for building a new high school and middle school at the Glenwood Elementary site and a central elementary at the current high school and junior high site in downtown Rossford.

Mr. Hughes said the administration expects some 47 staff members to be eligible for retirement in the next five to six years and said those positions likely would not be filled in part because of the economies of consolidating elementary buildings. Along with savings on utilities, he said, the district expects to realize up to $4.8 million in savings a year under the new building plan.

During a meeting Sunday of the Coalition for Effective and Efficient Rossford Schools, organizers said they believed the board is asking for the wrong tax at the wrong time for the wrong plan.