By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City Council unanimously passed legislation Monday supporting the city school district at the polls and donating property if the school levy passes on Nov. 5.
Council President Mike Aspacher has repeatedly voiced his support publicly for the funding issue that would pay for a new community elementary school building.
“I have been an outspoken proponent of this and will continue to be,” Aspacher said.
Bowling Green has a history of supporting its schools – but the past two failed issues have raised questions about the community, he said.
“People have asked me, ‘What the heck’s going on in Bowling Green,’” Aspacher said.
“It’s time to erase that notion” and support the issue for the new elementary, he said.
The school board listened to community input, and is moving forward with the plan best for educating young students. “All of us have to step back and realize most of us are not education experts,” he said.
But many on council have some knowledge about economic development.
“Our community will be making a very strong statement of how we value education in Bowling Green,” Aspacher said.
One by one, each council member voiced their support of the resolution for the schools.
“I’m extremely happy to see this,” John Zanfardino said. “I think the school levy is urgent for the city of Bowling Green.”
Bruce Jeffers, a retired teacher from the Otsego district, said high quality schools are important for economic development – and even more important for the children of the community.
Sandy Rowland said a new consolidated school is a “major economic development issue,” but also a safety improvement for the district. She mentioned the letter written by Bowling Green Police Chief Tony Hetrick that stated the safety benefits of having one campus.
“That’s another good reason to support this levy,” Rowland said.
Greg Robinette talked about the importance of City Council taking a stand on the school issue. A new school would help the city continue its efforts to create and maintain a sustainable economic development strategy, by attracting more people and more business.
The resolution before council formally recognizes the effort of city government and all schools in the city working together to market the community, Robinette said. He called it one of the “building blocks” of economic development.
“I’m proud to support the efforts of all the schools in Bowling Green,” Robinette said.
Mark Hollenbaugh, who teaches in the North Baltimore School District, talked about his grandfather, who long ago was president of the school board in a small district. His grandfather told him to never told against a school levy.
“He said ‘they wouldn’t ask for it if they didn’t need it,’” Hollenbaugh said.
Since he has been able to vote, Hollenbaugh said, he has never voted against a school issue, “and I don’t see that happening this time.”
The only council member wavering on the resolution supporting the schools was Bill Herald.
“It’s inappropriate for City Council to take a stand on school levies,” Herald said. “I’m in a bit of a middle position.”
On one hand, Herald recognized that the resolution had been crafted so that it would be acceptable to all on council. He also said he did not like the “us – them” lines being drawn about the school levy.
“We need to be one community,” he said.
He also appreciated that the resolution mentions support for all schools in the city – not just the public schools.
Herald said it’s important that citizens realize the school board is not the enemy.
“They went beyond due diligence” to come up with a solution, he said, adding that the ballot issue is not the same as the past two attempts.
Herald also said the status quo of the schools is not acceptable – so he ended up voting in favor of the resolution.
The other action taken by City Council involved the transfer of land no longer needed by the city to the school district. The nine acres, located northwest of the existing middle and high schools, would ease traffic at the proposed elementary school off Fairview Avenue.
The acreage can be used for parking and to improve traffic flow in the area, by giving additional access from Van Camp Road. The proposed elementary would already have access from Fairview Avenue.
