To the editor,
Last November for a variety of reasons, I was, for the first time ever, a reluctant no vote for a school levy, that being the Bowling Green High School levy. After two positive encounters and communication with Bowling Green’s new superintendent, Dr. Ted Haselman, in September and then during the tour of the high school on October 8, I will definitely be a yes vote this time around.
Please know that it’s not easy as a senior citizen to vote to increase my taxes by $350/year. Yet, it’s clear to me, especially after touring the high school and learning of the issues there, that our students need a safer, healthier, and vastly more functional facility than the current 1963 building can provide.
I encourage all voters to gather the facts, consider the value of educating our youth in today’s world, and make an informed decision. All property owners can go to the Wood County Auditor’s website, click on property search, input your name, location, or parcel number(s), and then click on the Levy Estimator. There you’ll see what you can anticipate paying for this and all other levies on the November ballot.
My hope is that the new superintendent, the administration, and any returning or newly elected Board of Education members will commit to total transparency and frequent communication with community members. The future of our students depends on those leadership qualities as well as the informed support of the citizenry. Please don’t allow our students to suffer due to questionable decisions made in the past by folks no longer involved in the education of our students. Please consider a positive vote!
Mike Godfrey
Bowling Green
