Feb. 12, 2009
<Kick-Off Meeting for School Levy Held at Beallsville

        “The most important day is not election day - it’s the day after when we say, ‘We passed the levy, how will we spend the money’ or ‘the levy failed, what do we do now?’” said Mike Shoemaker, director, Ohio School Facilities Commission. He assured attendees that new buildings will be second to none. “You have a sweetheart deal in front of you,” he said, “Sixty-seven percent paid.” He noted that, “Some say there might be a better deal down the road. There won’t be. Prices go up every year.”
        Above, Shoemaker describes something he’d like to see happen. “I’d like to have a t-shirt burning,” he said, raising his hands as if stretching forth a t-shirt.  “The t-shirt would be one of those that say, ‘my school has wheels’.”

        Speaking to about 120 adults, plus several students, with regard to a proposed school bond levy were, seated: Rita Walters, Powhatan teacher and member of the Switzerland of Ohio Education Association; Attorney Jason Yoss, levy committee member and Liz Gramlich, Ohio Association of Public School Employees. Standing from left are, Dave Caldwell, Beallsville High School teacher and coach; Jay Circosta, Monroe Central High School counselor and coach;  Mike Shoemaker, director, Ohio School Facilities Commission; Mike Flannery, River High School teacher and coach; Larry Elliott, superintendent, Switzerland of Ohio School District and Ryan Caldwell, principal, Beallsville High School.  State Rep. Jennifer Garrison, who pushed for legislation in order for the district to pay a reduced portion construction cost, was lead speaker and unable to stay for the remainder of the meeting due to a commitment in Columbus. The meeting was held Feb. 9 beginning at 11 a.m. at Beallsville High School. The school district is asking voters to approve an 8.19 mill levy on May 5. The levy includes 7.69 mills for the bond issue to build new schools and a one-half mill tax levy for maintenance, which totals 8.19 mills.                        Photos by Arlean Selvy

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
        If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a compelling eight-minute video shown at Beallsville Monday morning was an encyclopedia of information. The presentation pointed out dismal details of the desperate condition of our schools here in the Switzerland of Ohio school district.
        We were shown furnace rooms right out of a horror movie, pipes exposed in ceiling and wall areas due to missing ceiling tiles and  holes, cracked structures and structures with missing bricks, floors that look like patchwork quilts of many colors. We were even shown restrooms that we‘d never allow our children to use if they were anywhere else.
        The video also gave us a glimpse of schools in our surrounding area: spacious rooms, colorful decor, large, brightly lighted hallways, beautiful kitchen facilities. One felt as if a load had been lifted and it was time to take a deep breath and relax.
        We cannot, however, relax. Not until the students of the Switzerland of Ohio become the recipients of such schools.
        “Why not now?” is the question posed by the video.
        “This is a tremendous opportunity,” said Rep. Jenni-fer Garrison, who worked tirelessly for years to have legislation passed in order to bring our share of the cost from 55 percent to 37 percent. Referring to schools in our  surrounding area, she said, “We want that for the students of the Switzerland of Ohio.” She reminded attendees the offer by the state is good only for a short period of time. “It’s a great deal for you ...” she said, noting the state response has been incredible over the past two years.
        “You’ve heard that a picture is worth a thousand words, and that cannot be more true,” said Jason Yoss, a member of the committee working to educate and inform the community about what’s at stake and why the levy is so important. “The issue is bigger than Woods-field, bigger than Beallsville, bigger than the riverfront,“ said Yoss. “The community needs to be the entire school district.”
        The school district encompasses 536 square miles and has a three-county footprint. The buses travel 4,000 miles a day.
        Yoss told attendees to think about the benefits, aside from having new schools,  the construction would generate 1,032 jobs and 344 related community jobs. “You can’t overlook these benefits,” he added.
        “It’s a real stimulus package for Monroe County,” said Jason’s father, attorney Dick Yoss.
        Rita Walters, an educator at Powhatan Elementary, noted that her children have grown, graduated and left the area ... and still she awaits new schools. “We want the very best for our children,” she said. “Yet time and again levies have been defeated ... and parents go out and buy new video games and toys that will soon be thrown away. Don’t our children deserve new schools?” she asked. “Aren’t they worth it?” she continued. “Well, I see them every day - believe me, they are worth it.” Walters concluded with a plea, “This is our last best opportunity - a golden opportunity to build schools that we can drive by or go in to and say proudly, ‘I did this’.”
        Liz Gramlich, who has been the secretary at BHS for 23 years, is an OAPSE member and sits on state committees, said she has seen new schools. However, in Beallsville, she said, when you turn on the heat  in the fall, you can actually see the dust balls blowing out. “There are health concerns,” she said, noting 25 students in the school have asthma inhalers. In addition to the dust in the air, she noted mold. She wants to see improved health for students as well as a sense of pride. “Vote yes for the health of it,” said Gramlich.
        “It’s exciting to get $87 million,” said Dave Caldwell, BHS educator and coach. “I can’t see why we can’t pass 8.19 mills to put up six new schools and one renovated in our district.”
        “We have the opportunity to give our kids the best,” said RHS Coach Mike Flannery. “Who gets to go first you ask? “Who cares - so what?” He encouraged voters to encourage others to vote for a better environment for our kids.
        MCHS Coach Jay Circosta said he believes in TEAM - Together Everybody Achieves More. “We have the opportunity to show our youth we care.”

<County Officials Borrow $30,000

by Holly Gallaher
Staff Writer
        At a continued meeting held Feb. 4 by Monroe County Commissioners, members unanimously passed a motion to acquire a $30,000 loan from Citizens National Bank, Woodsfield. The money is needed to “help with the cash flow problem,” said Commission President John Pyles. 
        Citizens National Bank representative Lance LaFollette told the board the renewable loan would hold a 4 percent interest rate and would be due July 31, 2009. If the amount due is not available by the set end date, the county will be responsible for paying the remaining interest and the date for payment will be extended to Dec. 31. 
        Also at the Feb. 4 meeting, Jennifer George and Jeffrey Stankunas, attorneys representing the Columbus law firm of Isaac, Brant, Ledman and Teeter, and Jeanette Harter, director, Monroe County Department of Job and Family Services, were present. The board immediately adjourned into executive session to discuss ‘contract issues’. No action was taken concerning this session. 
        After the executive session came to a close, Harter addressed commissioners requesting approval of a revised em-ployee manual for JFS. 
        According to Harter there has been an “abuse of sick leave.” She proposed to the commission that the 12 weeks of paid sick leave and the 12 weeks of unpaid leave that is given to eligible employees by the Family Medical Leave Act should run concurrently. “I want it concurrent,” said Harter.    
        Commissioner Carl Davis questioned the proposed policy changes and asked if there would be any ‘emergency situations’ taken into consideration for employees if the policy changes were to be enacted. 
        Harter explained that the director of the agency would be given the discretion to, on a case-by- case basis, grant additional unpaid leave up to six months. Harter made it clear that she cannot afford employees to be gone for any lengthy amount of time, especially in the Children’s Services Unit.
        After much discussion, there was no resolution to the matter. On the advice of Stankunas, it is to be further considered and voted on at a later time.
        The board once again adjourned into executive session to discuss ‘pending litigation and personnel’. No action was taken regarding these matters following the session. 

 <Eagle spotted in Monroe County

Photo by Marlene Moose

<Appointments to Airport Authority

        County commissioners at their Feb. 9 meeting made two appointments to the airport authority. Appointed were Charles Henry, a new face on the board, and Donald Pollock, a familiar face to the position.
        Henry, of CR834 near Sum-merfield, has an extensive background in aviation. He operates Cambridge Flight Academy, a flight school and aircraft rental facility located at Cambridge Municipal Airport. Offered at the academy is complete flight instruction for the private pilot license. He also organizes trips to various locations within an hour or two flight from Cambridge. In addition, he operates  an aircraft maintenance facility called Henry Aviation. A resident of Monroe County, Henry said he is interested in the viability of the county airport. He worked 25 years in the US Air Force with most of his time in aircraft maintenance. The vote for Henry was unanimous.
        Pollock spent 15 years as a member of the board, 10 years as president. During that time the airport received over a million dollars worth of grants for improvements from the FAA and the Ohio Division of Aviation, as well as other sources. He has a lifelong interest in general and commercial aviation and its development. Pollock has been a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Asso. over 50 years. He remains an active member of the Ohio Aviation Associa-tion an organization which works closely with FAA and ODOT’s Ohio Division of Aviation. The vote for Pollock was 2-1 with Pyles voting no.

<~ River High School’s Class AA Cheerleading Champions ~

        Claiming its first ever Class AA OVAC Cheerleading Championship at the 18th annual OVAC cheerleading competition was the River High School Pilots. Kneeling from left are Morgan Meyer, Chacity Craig, Chelsea Lowe, Landyn Lucas, Kelsey Krempasky, Stephanie Brown and Kelsey McGuire. Standing are Coach Angi McDonald, Renae Riley, Rachel Stewart, Felicia McCullough, Kristy Smith, Brittany Curtis and Kylie Brown. McDonald, River’s first-year coach, credited her seniors for providing leadership during the transition. “When I came in as coach I was not sure what we had,” she said. “I have to give credit to these six fantastic seniors, that I am going to miss next year, for all their help this season.”
        Senior squad member Landyn Lucas said the squad had made winning the AA crown their goal. “After finishing second last year, we knew we could get first and it happened,” said Lucas. “We were excited to have a new coach and new uniforms. We looked good today, worked hard, went out and own the title.”
        The competition was held Feb. 7 at the WesBanco Arena in Wheeling.
                                     Photo Courtesy of The Times Leader

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