To the editor:

As many are aware, the citizens of the Salem School District have a choice to make November 7, on the proposed levy to build a new K-8 school. There are many strong opinions on this levy, all of which are valid. As taxpaying citizens, we have the right and obligation to question the fair use of our tax dollars.

Even though I will personally be inconvenienced by the proposed K-8 school, as it will literally be built in my back yard, I fully support the levy. From a cost perspective, we will likely never have the opportunity to replace our aging schools at such a low cost, with property owning residents only paying 15% of the bill. The remainder is paid by the State of Ohio, and a generous $10 million donation by the Salem Community Foundation.

Today, precious instructional funding has to be diverted to maintain aging buildings that were designed for the educational needs of the 1920s-40s. While these are beautiful historical buildings, and hopefully can be repurposed for some community need, do we really want to pass up the chance to give our children the same educational advantages that all of our neighboring districts have in modern, secure, technologically advanced schools? At the cost of 15 cents on the dollar it is a true bargain.

The average cost is around $10 a month for each $100,000 of property valuation. Only homeowners directly pay this. If we do not pass this levy, once we lose the state funding, we will be spending much more over time to maintain and eventually replace our 100-year-old schools very soon down the road. The least cost option is to pass this levy with all the additional funding available.

Salem has a rich history and community spirit, and is still a great place to raise a family and call home. Let’s rise to the occasion and make a smart choice for the future to keep it that way.

Gary DeLand,

SHS ’88,

Salem