Vote Yes to the Belpre School Levy | News, sports, jobs

Letter to the editor (graphic illustration/MetroCreative)

We have an upcoming election in Belpre to pass the school maintenance levy. This millage has not been increased since 1984. It is simply a continuation of the existing taxes. Like most of you, I believe in education. We must pass this levy to make our schools better for our young students.

I know how hard it is to get votes when running for mayor of Belpre. I don’t want to sit on the school board. They find it difficult to enforce this tax. I have already seen signs in the yards asking us to vote against this tax. Nevertheless, I think the board is a little irresponsible. For the past three years I have been the head football coach at Belpre. I was told that the school board wants the head coach to be a school teacher. I should step down as head coach and become an assistant coach. I decided against it. Now the rumor is that I’m retired. I didn’t retire. As head coach, I bought the uniforms for the team. The nets needed to be replaced and I bought them. Many of our games are two hours away and I would buy dinner for the team on the way home. I have been a substitute teacher at Belpre City Schools for seven years. During COVID I was sub and in school every day. Didn’t miss a sick day. It was hard, but I also quit as a substitute teacher at Belpre City Schools. Unfortunately, I’m not the only head coach who was replaced by a teacher. We had a head coach for 32 years. The last game of the season took place on a Thursday. On Friday, the next day, the athletic director informed this coach that he would not be rehired for the next season. He was replaced as head coach by a teacher. Then another sport, a 17 year old assistant coach who was interviewing for a head coach position. The selection committee unanimously selected the assistant for the head coach position, but was overlooked by the board and hired a coach with no varsity experience.

It is not my intention to complain. Could or should I be angry and vote against the levy and punish the students? No. I love Belpre and as an alumnus I want only the best for our students and schools. A school is the heartbeat of the community. Sporting events, band competitions and science fairs bring the community together. Belpre is in a great location. Other cities are jealous of our growth. A new children’s hospital is being built. 200 new employees are hired. But if we don’t pass a school levy, none of these workers with children will choose Belpre because of our schools. The upcoming election is about a maintenance levy. Each time a new school levy was rejected on the ballot. Our schools are old and need to be replaced. It only makes sense to pass a new school levy. In our old schools, something constantly needs to be replaced, which makes it more expensive to maintain.

Your taxes are never determined based on the actual assessed value of your home. With better schools, property values ​​increase and YOU make a profit when you sell. If you want to sell your house, there is a good chance it will go to a family with children. Will the buyer choose your home or look at another community with better schools?

It’s time to forget about putting up “no voting” signs in our yards because our friend got fired from school ten years ago or someone who wasn’t qualified was hired for a better position. It’s time we look past the pettiness. Let’s not look at what’s best for me. Let’s look at what’s best for our schools and our community. Vote yes to the submission.

Jim Nelson

Belpre