Letter to the editor: The fallout of Streetsboro school levy failure

Editor’s note: The Portager publishes letters to the editor from the community. The opinions expressed are published not because they necessarily reflect those of the publication but because we feel they contribute meaningfully to the local discourse on matters of public interest.

When you break the news that the school levy failed to your 17 year old daughter & the tears fall. You try to lessen the blow by reminding her she will be in college next year & won’t feel the cuts that will be necessary. Her response is “I’m not sad for me but for all the other kids”.  When she asks what more could we have done? “We worked so hard.”

When you can see her discouragement & disappointment in the voters….in our community….who made the decision to not support our children’s futures, the literal education of our future generations.  

When you have to make the hard decisions of what to cut because you are the elected official who has to work to balance the budget. Who is driven by a commitment to support the education & forward progress of the children in your district but your community chose not to support the children’s futures. “Cut from the top” the naysayers shout. They have no concept how hard our administration & teachers work to support the district & our children. They are worth every penny & often deserve more than what we can afford to pay them. The administrators are a wealth of information, understanding and drive to do their best for our kids & families.   

This is how people become apathetic, how they disengage from politics, how they say “what’s the point”.  

Is the fight worth it? 

I say yes. 

To do nothing is not an option for me, my local community children deserve better & they are worth the fight. 

Bring it on.

— Sara Scott, Streetsboro