After evaluating numerous communities, my family moved to Worthington about four years ago. We have greatly enjoyed being "all in" with the community ever since -- serving on community boards, coaching sports teams, volunteering in the schools and hosting block parties.

 

It saddens us deeply to see the Worthington community at such a crossroad. People or communities don't decide they want to be mediocre. Mediocrity occurs through a series of decisions, actions (or inactions) over a period of time, without awareness of the destination, and then they wonder, how did we get here?The thought of the school levy not passing boggles my mind. The cuts that would occur are cuts to the core. The inability of people to look several years down the road to see what Worthington would potentially look like if the levy does not pass continues to amaze me.

Folks comment that they have to think about what is best for their families. Is lowering the quality of education for our kids and/or substantially reducing the value of our homes really best for our families?

The communities of Upper Arlington, Dublin, Olentangy, Grandview and New Albany also have "excellent" schools, but they pass their levies. Once you start having the reputation of not passing levies, you are now on that slippery slope to mediocrity, both with the schools and the community, which are so tightly tied together.

Realtors will steer families to other communities and the best teachers are going to teach with other school districts. Many are in denial or full of hubris thinking this cannot happen in Worthington.

We are at the point today of evaluating whether the 125 positions (teachers, guidance counselors, etc.) on the cut list are "worthy" of our dollars. How can this be? For those who vote against the levy, be careful what you vote for; the "slippery slope" towards mediocre schools and community just got steeper.

We believe Worthington is a great community with excellent schools and we hope it stays that way because we love living here.

Geoffrey Biehn

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My husband and I made the decision to buy a home in Worthington, long before our two children were born. He, being a product of Worthington Schools, felt a strong pull back to the community that helped shaped him as a young man.

With our two children nearing school age we are terribly worried that what we had envisioned for their school years is in grave danger. I have been a teacher for nearly 10 years. I have worked in other school districts from kindergarten-higher education and I am fully cognizant of the high standards and expectations maintained within our district, both of its teachers and students. Our schools consistently receive outstanding results in teacher and student performance. Without the passage of Issue 49 on Nov. 3, many new "prospective" home-buyers may choose to make their home investment elsewhere.

The increase of the pay-to-play sum and elimination of middle school and freshman sports is alarming. There are many families who will not be able to afford this fee and will, as a result, have to tell their child they can't play their sport of choice this year. As two former division one athletes, sports have played an integral part of our lives. Athletics offer the opportunity for young men and women to foster friendships, forge trust with one another and simulate many of life's greatest lessons both on and off the fieldÉ.

Kathi Kahoun

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As an alumnus of Worthington High School, parent, PTA president and resident of Worthington Schools, I must voice my support for Issue 49.

Both my husband and I had the great fortune of attending Worthington Schools and graduating from Worthington High School. We received much more than just a diploma. At Worthington, we had the opportunity to participate in a range of extra-curricular activities that enabled us to be involved students in our school and community and competitive in applying to colleges. We graduated from high school as well-rounded, high-achieving learners and leaders.

We chose to raise our children in Worthington so they would receive the same great education and experiences. With one child at WKHS and two in elementary, we have interacted with many teachers, programs, services and activities at several schools in Worthington. There is no doubt that our children are receiving a superior education. There is a great breadth and depth to the experiences our children receive both inside and outside the traditional classroom.

I hate to think of what our children's education and activities will be like if our schools cannot provide art, music, librarians, extracurricular activities, etc. and how that will affect their future.

We must ensure that our schools continue the tradition of excellence that sets Worthington apart. The quality of life in Worthington and the quality of our schools are mutually dependent, regardless of whether you have children in school or notÉ.

Liz Spicer Stanton

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I have serious concerns about the Worthington school levy on the November ballot. We are experiencing the worst economy of a lifetime with unemployment figures of 10.7-percent and growing during a "jobless" recovery.

People in our community have experienced income reduction, job loss, 401K shrinkage and those are the lucky ones. Some have lost their homes to foreclosure or are in bankruptcy. Recently, I saw a car being repossessed just down the street. Worthington families are suffering. Will it be good for our community to take additional money from families so we can award 5-percent to 8-percent raises to teachers?

The average house in Worthington is valued at about $240,000; the average tax increase for this levy in the final year is $530 per year.

Will house values go up if we pass this levy or down because we will experience more foreclosures and deterioration? Is it better for the kids in our district to have better-paid teachers or better shoes, adequate lunch money and electricity at home?

Recently, Mr. Bressman, head of the school board, stated that when the board approved the most recent teachers' contract, that he did not think that a levy would be needed to pay for it. From the public financial information on the district's Web site, I knew the generous contract would require a levy to pass. Mr. Bressman has access to all public records as well as private information. Why didn't he know that a levy would be necessary? Why, during these economic times, did the school board pass this contract?

Pam Williams

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Having written a letter in August asking the teachers to make concessions, I'm writing now to thank them and commend the Worthington school board for accepting them. It is a step in the right direction, showing we can all work together to continue to provide quality education for our kids.

It is great to live in a community where we can all come together for a common goal. I urge everyone to continue the progress with a "yes" vote for issue 49 on Nov. 3, and may we continue to work together to have quality schools.

Dana Nichols

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In personal communications, school board member Marc Schare indicated that contrary to my assertion in the letter published last week, he has not advocated a freeze in the step increases in teacher salaries. Indeed and in fairness, I have never heard him say nor intimate that specifically.

Regrettably, what should have been written as a conjecture trying to envision the why of his negative vote on the acceptance of Worthington's proposal for a zero-base salary increase to come later, my words were written as an assertion.

Schare did not indicate what would have been sufficient for him to vote favorably and so room was left for conjecture.

Abramo Ottolenghi

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I have observed over a long lifetime (I am an octogenarian) that a community that fails to support its schools also fails to maintain its social and economic health.

Vote for the levy.

Virginia McDougle