School levy renewal gets OK from city

Warren officials endorse issue that will be on March 19 ballot

WARREN -- City council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution endorsing the Warren City School District's upcoming 12.5-mill, 10-year levy renewal.

The levy, which would provide the district $3,918,802 annually if renewed, will be voted on during the March 19 election.

The resolution of support said the levy will "help to maintain a comprehensive Education Program for the students attending Warren City Schools."

It said the district has "improved the quality of the education it provides to the children of this community" and "demonstrated its ability to cut costs and improve student learning simultaneously."

The resolution was requested by Andrew Herman, D-2nd Ward. Herman, a science teacher and coach in the Howland Local School District, serves as the chairman of council's education committee.

Herman said support for the school district is important.

"There's a very low morale in the schools across the country," Herman said. "Teachers are leaving the profession, and people don't want to go into it. How could that be good for the United States of America? How could that be good for our community if our schools aren't functioning at their highest level? I think that we need to show them, not just financial support, but moral support, which is what this is really about."

At an October meeting, the district's board of education voted to place the levy renewal on the March ballot. John Fowley, who was a board member at the time, said despite any increase in property value, the renewal levy would not result in any increase for homeowners in the district.

Herman said supporting local schools is important. He said those who criticize their local schools should be willing to volunteer their time to help their district.

"My dad always used to say, 'It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness,'" Herman said.

At the council meeting, Michael O'Brien, D-at Large, commended the resolution. O'Brien said city leaders should strive to be involved with the local school district.

"I remember a time when city council never was involved in Warren City School levies," O'Brien said. "It was a complete injustice that the city leaders didn't communicate or correlate with what the school board members, let alone the superintendent, did in the city of Warren. This resolution supports the levy, and supports the education that is going on in Warren."