To the editor:

With the Chamber’s mission “to serve as the catalyst that creates the best possible environment for business,” the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is endorsing the 3.48 mill, 37-year property tax levy the Salem City School District is seeking in the upcoming November election.

While the Chamber is sensitive to the additional tax burden it presents for city residents, we believe a strong school system is a key driver in economic development. The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors are of the opinion that having a stable educational environment for youth plays a vital role in the development of tomorrow’s workforce as well as promotes an increased quality of life for city residents.

The 67% committed by the Ohio Facility Commission and the local donation of 15% by the Salem Community Foundation, is a unique financial opportunity city residents may never see again. In the business and economic sector of Salem, there has been positive momentum in the last five years. The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce believes passage of the school levy will help keep moving things forward.

Kind regards,

2023 Salem Area Chamber

of Commerce Board of Directors

­————————–

To the editor:

What an opportunity for the students in the Salem School District to continue their education in a new school building that will provide the foundation to be successful in their futures. As former educators in the Salem area, we enjoyed our careers immensely and have watched how Salem City Schools continue to provide opportunities to our young people.

Many events have definitely affected each of our lives in the past years. We believe that these changes also provide us with an opportunity to grow. Most educators firmly believe that the work we did was not only for the present, but also for the future. You, as Salem residents, now have that same responsibility to launch the city of Salem into the future.

The Salem Community Foundation has been such a resource in supplementing many opportunities that all Salem citizens have benefitted throughout the years. Over fifty years ago, Salem citizens saw the need and the opportunities for our small city if we could band together. The Salem Community Foundation was established and, one could wonder, where our town would be without it. Throughout the years, SCF has responded to the immediate needs of our city in many areas, and also, looked for projects that would enhance our daily lives. The premier example of this is the Salem Community Canter!

The current members of the SCF have again provided the foresight necessary to continue to look forward and dream big. The SCF’s donation to each of your pocketbooks is extraordinary, challenging our citizens to continue to provide a future for our children. By approving this initiative to provide a new school building for our youngsters, you can do your part to ensure that will happen. As we can attest from our experiences teaching above the boiler room in Reilly school or teaching physical education in one half of the old junior high school gymnasium, the need for current updated facilities is so important.

We encourage you to VOTE for the children of Salem!! Vote YES to give our children all the opportunities possible.

Nancy and Ed Willeman

Bradenton, FL

————————–

To the editor:

“As goes the school, so goes the community.”

Our children were raised in Salem and educated in the Salem Schools. (Christopher SHS 99, Tyler SHS 04). Our family has been active in the community for many decades. We could have chosen to raise our children anywhere in Northeast Ohio.

We chose Salem Schools for so many reasons. Generations of tradition and a reputation for leadership in commitment to not only its current student body but also to its future and its alumni who figure prominently all over North America and elsewhere. This leadership role and commitment is driven by those countless persons who have devoted themselves to Salem’s students, caring for them beyond the classroom and into the world, the realities and the evolving challenges faced by each passing generation.

The monumental support by the SHS Alumni Association and the palpable pride of Quaker Alumni worldwide further illustrates this point.

As goes a community’s school, so goes a community.

The school levy will assure that Salem will have a safe, efficient school environment for generations to come. Here is an opportunity for each and every voter to make a direct impact on our community right now! And tomorrow! And into the future!

Join us in doing the greatest thing we can possibly do for our community.

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY,

Salem

————————–

To the editor:

Dear Members of the Community, we are writing this letter to express our wholehearted support for the upcoming school levy. As individuals who were not only born and raised in this district but also raised our own five children within it, we firmly believe that this levy is of utmost importance. We understand that nurturing our children’s growth and education is a collective responsibility, and we are eager to contribute to the well-being of our future students.

There are several compelling reasons why passing this levy is crucial:

1. Enhancing Educational Resources: A successful levy will provide students and educators with state-of-the-art facilities, granting them access to cutting-edge technology and improved learning resources. This investment in education will undoubtedly benefit our students’ academic development.

2. Attracting New Families: Improved and modern facilities have the potential to attract more families to our community. A well-maintained educational environment can make Salem schools an appealing choice for prospective residents, potentially increasing our school enrollment.

The primary goal of this levy is to create a safe, aesthetically pleasing, and conducive learning environment for Salem’s students. Achieving this goal requires the active participation of our community members in voting “yes” for this levy.

Thank you for taking the time to consider our perspective on this matter. Your support in this endeavor will make a significant difference in the lives of our students and the future of our community.

Jeff, Becky (SHS 84) Carner, and Family

Jake (SHS ’13), Hannah (SHS ’14), Haley (SHS ’15),

Jerod (SHS ’17), Hayden (SHS ’20)