By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green School District voters rejected the building bond issue – but solidly supported three board candidates who stood up for the One Community One School.
Voters said “no” to the one community elementary school, but “yes” to Jill Carr, Ginny Stewart and Tracy Hovest.
That mixed message from voters was bittersweet to those who worked on the levy campaign.
The combination income/property tax to build an elementary school appears to have lost by 71 votes. An estimated 130 provisional ballots still have to be counted after two weeks – but it is unlikely that will change the outcome of the ballot.
“We knew it was going to be close,” Superintendent Francis Scruci said Tuesday night. “I’m proud of the effort the committee made. They stuck to the message.”
The voters were closely split on that message – with 3,960 voting no, and 3,889 voting yes.
The mood was jovial earlier Tuesday evening as the results trickled in, showing the school levy ahead. But then as more numbers came in, it became clear the levy was in trouble.
Ben Otley, chairman of the levy committee, expressed relief at the board candidates elected, but disappointment in the levy loss.
“What it means is, our work is not done,” Otley said.
“The fact is we still have the oldest, most outdated schools in Wood County,” that don’t meet the needs of students, he said.
“We will go back to the drawing board,” Otley said. “We’re disappointed, but we ran a positive, above-board campaign.”
The bond issue on Tuesday’s ballot had been modified from the previous building issue that had been soundly rejected twice by voters.
In order to make the issue more palatable, the new issue was for $40 million rather than $72 million. It was spread over 30 years rather than 37 years. And the board agreed to seek state funds to help with construction expenses.
In an effort to make the building issue more fair for all voters, the issue on the ballot was equally split between property and income taxes. This last change dropped the costs significantly for those owning agricultural land.
The issue brought about fierce competition from eight candidates running for three open seats on the school board.
Following is a list of the eight candidates and their unofficial vote tallies:
- Jill Carr: 3,602
- Grant Chamberlain: 2,232
- Tracy Hovest: 2,823
- Ryan Myers: 2,029
- Brian Smith: 1,851
- Ginny Stewart: 3,095
- Richard Strow: 2,016
- Peggy Thompson: 2,344
The three elected will serve with Bill Clifford and Norm Geer who are in the middle of their terms on the board.
This new board will now have to figure out the next step forward for the school district.
One of the options to be considered is making the elementaries into grade level schools, so classrooms can be more equitable.
“That could be on the table,” Scruci said. “That has to be considered to make it equitable for kids in each grade level.”
Earlier in the evening, Stewart and Carr thanked the levy committee for its efforts to pass the levy. They praised the teachers and administrators at the gathering for their unwavering support.
“We do it because we care about the kids in this community, and we care about the families in this community,” Stewart said.
Carr talked about her disappointment in the negativity and nastiness toward the school levy, but said she was gratified to see the support – including the first ever candidate endorsements from the educators’ union.
Otley also said he was inspired by the commitment of community members and educators. The levy earned the endorsement of many community organizations.
“I have done a ton of community service in my life,” Otley said. “This committee has been the most committed – very dedicated.”
Hovest, a relative newcomer to Bowling Green who earned the endorsement of local educators, was ecstatic to be elected to the board.
“People didn’t know who I was,” she said. “But they saw my heart. They saw that I want to do what is best for Bowling Green.”
Hovest said it was a tough race, adding, “I’m going to work twice as hard as a board member.”
Now, she said, the board has to regroup.
“We obviously are going to listen to the voters,” Hovest said. “We as a board need to reconvene and look at what our other options are.”
But first, the district must focus on renewing its operating levies in the spring, she added.
Stewart saw the voters’ support for her as validation.
“They believe in the work I’ve done,” she said.
“Now we need to regroup and figure out where we go from here,” Stewart said. “But I’m pleased that Jill, Tracy and I will be on the board. We are all about the kids and the teachers.”
Carr said her re-election to the board was “bittersweet.”
“Our focus has been on getting the bond issue passed,” she said. “Now we go back to the drawing board.”
Carr acknowledged that the voters’ mixed message was confusing. “I’m having a hard time putting the pieces together.”
Scruci was also trying to decipher the message, but said one certainty remains. “We’ve got kids who are counting on us,” he said.
The organization called Save Our Schools, which worked against the one community elementary school plan, issued the following statement: “With limited resources we were able to present the community with valuable research. While we are happy the community supports small schools, we still acknowledge the need to address the elementary schools and high school. We are saddened the school board had not given the community the option of voting for small schools this election. After these past three attempts the message is clear, the citizens of the Bowling Green City School District want to keep our small elementary schools within the community. We look forward to the opportunity to vote for small schools in the near future, which we believe benefits both our children and community.”
