Edison stresses importance of levy

By JULIE GHRIST, Staff writer
RICHMOND — Edison Local School District board president Larry Crow during Thursday’s meeting explained officials have a “really positive focus on the levy process.” Crow talked about the school district’s five-year, 2.75-mills permanent improvement levy on the Nov. 4 ballot that, if passed, would support improvements at five district buildings. “Our levy committee is doing a fantastic job, and we will be sending out additional information through mailings,” Crow said. “We need to try to fix our buildings and keep our kids safe.” “This levy would generate an additional $914,797 per year strictly for the purpose of making improvements to schools and transportation,” Superintendent Lisa Carmichael stated. Carmichael noted the money would be used toward constructing, adding to or repairing buildings; making other improvements of school property and assets; purchasing buses; making necessary roof repairs or replacements; and replacing windows. Crow told those in attendance the money will not be used for the purpose of constructing any new facility. Carmichael explained the levy provides money for purchases and improvements that can be used for five years or more on such matters as roofs, buses, textbooks and computers. She said money cannot in any way be used for salary or fringe benefits. She also stressed there “will be absolutely no raises or other benefits for any employee coming out of this levy money.” Officials noted the Edison district has not had an increase in its funding since 1995. Carmichael also said the costs of operating schools today has increased significantly, while funding from the state has continued to remain the same as it was 13 years ago. As a result, she said the district has had to make cuts and reductions in its staff and school programs on a continuous basis. “Our children work very hard and do extremely well academically,” Carmichael explained. “They deserve to have decent and updated school facilities in which to learn. We certainly hope Edison Local residents will take notice of this, and help us to help them this November.” Crow also read a letter written by a Barnesville woman and addressed to the board. The letter states how the woman “felt very comfortable” and was welcomed by those at Edison during a football game between the two districts on Oct. 3. “The woman wished us much success on the passage of our levy and said if ‘everyone in your community could see what we from Barnesville saw tonight, you would pass with no problems,’” Crow added. In other matters Thursday, bus driver Mark Clark spoke about liability issues. Clark said has been transporting students to and from Edison High School to the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School for more than 30 years, but this year, things have changed, he explained. Due to Edison High School having the earlier dismissal time of 2 p.m. this year rather than 2:50 p.m. as in years past, those students who are picked up from the JVS at 2:30 no longer have those buses to transport them. As a result, Clark said that when he picks up the 40 students from the JVS in the afternoon, “I’m to disperse these kids and I don’t know who they are or where they live.” He stated the juniors and seniors he picks up at the JVS could tell him their stop is anywhere and he only has a school roster to follow. Clark gave the example of the time he recently was going through Richmond and a student informed him, “my bus stop is here.” But Clark later discovered, after he made a phone call to that student’s father because of a discipline problem that occurred on the bus, the student did not live in Richmond. “Who is liable?” Clark asked. “We all are — the administration, the board and the bus drivers. We need to get this under control and make sure our children are getting home safely.” Assistant Superintendent Dave Quattrochi stated transportation and district officials are reviewing these and other transportation matters and have been “looking at the routes so as to analyze the situation.” “The safety of our students always comes first,” Quattrochi said, adding that’s why the Transfinder program the district recently purchased was not utilized this year. The district has put together a transportation committee that’s working to make adjustments to the program and examine the best possible solutions. Carmichael also discussed a 5.1 percent increase in the district’s Mutual Medical heath insurance that will take effect Jan. 1. She noted this is “very good news,” as past insurance companies’ rates have climbed as high as 18 percent at the start of a new year. The board also: ¯ Approved the following to the county substitute teachers’ list: Amy Scott, Jenna Provenzano, Ray Lautzenheiser, Maureen Risdon, Lois D’Alesio, Alana Hostetler, Joseph Rezk, Amy Collopy, Kevin Cook, Alisa Lukacena and Patricia West. ¯ Approved the following classified supplemental contracts: Shaun Barcalow, drama club sponsor, high school; Clint Chevalier, wrestling coach, Stanton Elementary School; Dave Marshall, eighth-grade girls basketball coach, Stanton; Howard George, junior varsity boys basketball coach, high school; and Harold LeMasters, assistant wrestling coach, high school. ¯ Approved the following certificated supplemental contracts: Kristin Granatir, yearbook adviser, Stanton; Mary Ann Hoobler, track, Stanton; Kriss Turk, seventh-grade girls basketball, Stanton; and Ron Ferrell, ninth-grade boys basketball coach, high school. ¯ Accepted the resignation of Tracey Wright, teacher, effective Sept. 21. ¯ Approved an overnight field trip for the National FFA convention from Thursday through Oct. 25 in Indianapolis. ¯ Approved funding three students at a cost of $4,650 for the Close Up program March 8-14 in Washington, D.C. (Ghrist can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com.)