By Teacher and taxpayer

May 8, 2007 9:41 PM | Link to this

I voted yes for the levy. Dayton is incredibly good at finding funding for various programs, for farming the funds, as it were, but grants can only take care of part of the costs of educating an increasingly needy group of children. Grants don’t pay the electric bill. For all you residents who think the board has been irresponsible, name one other district in the area that has gone for 15 years without floating an operating levy. I can’t think of any. Someone paid for your education, regardless of where you went to school. It’s our turn now.

By Rick

May 8, 2007 6:58 PM | Link to this

I am a Dayton resident, homeowner, who sent his kids to private school. I reluctantly voted for the levy. Reluctantly, because it was a large amount and I wonder if the DPS will squander the money. On the other hand the Board and Dr. Mack have been instrumental in turning this school system around. The number one characteristic of a good school is to have an involved and active prinical. Too many of ours were there because of seniority. Within four years after the Kids First team was elected half the principals were gone. The Board gets it. It was a very tough and close call for me.

By Eve

May 8, 2007 6:37 PM | Link to this

I’m a Dayton homeowner and I voted yes. I think it’s too close to call, but if it wins by one you can thank my husband who was going to vote no but forgot today was Election Day.

By Mr. Teacher

May 8, 2007 6:32 PM | Link to this

I voted yes, and I am a DPS teacher. I’ve studied funding, in fact I did my thesis on it as an undergrad. I spent 6 months in Cols., at the courts, with the attorneys in the DeRolph case, going through files—thousands of pages worth. As I see it, Dayton has about 5 more years before this 20-year cycle rolls through and the judgement can be made—think of that—an entire generation of Daytonians going through the educational system with no real State funding, no real solution. An entire generation—and yet we want employers to come here without any kind of mental infrastructure? Where will this city go without kids who can read and write? And what has happened to Dayton in these unfunded years? Where have the jobs gone? When industry sees that the public disavows their children ie, the new working class, industry moves elsewhere. That’s the 20-year, one-generation cycle and we’ve got about 5 years left on it. When the Northwest Ordinance cut Ohio out as the first of the new states, the right to an education, funding by the public, was so integral for it’s success that it was put into the Ordinance itself and into our State Constitution, and the land necessary to fund it was reserved in every district. You can see the remains of these buildings as lone fireplaces sitting in the rolling fields of southern Ohio every few miles. Every person writing and reading on this forum has the previous generation to thank for funding their education. It’s a sad state of affairs, and a miserable mark upon our culture, to see after all these years a whole generation of adults so greedy and self-centered as to deny to others what was freely given to them by their ancestors. We sit here with the reward and benefit of that investment, proud and mighty, and would deny that to others, many of whom live in the cycle of poverty every day of their young lives. I do think, however, that the good people of Dayton will rise to the occasion and do the right thing. I still have a little faith in humanity despite what I see on these boards. Generally, those that b***h do nothing to change their situation and thus won’t get up and vote today. Those who passionatly believe in a just cause will walk through fire. Passage by 56%.

By Barb

May 8, 2007 4:22 PM | Link to this

I hope the levy does pass but am fearful that if it does the Board and Dr. Mack will take it as a vote of confidence. My yes vote and the yes votes of my whole family were really a vote of confidence that the public will become more involved in making the administration much more accountable for what they are doing. As Dr. Mack takes the alcolades for the improvement of students my children, all products of DPS tell me repeatedly that they feel it was the teachers who made their progress possible. They felt if anything the DPS tried to “dumb” them down by constantly lowering expectations to meet the lower students and behavior problems. They always felt their teachers raised the bar but upper administration constantly lowered it.

By Drew Fuller

May 8, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this

I am a graduate of the Dayton Public Schools. As a resident and property owner, I voted for the levy. I am confident that my vote will help ensure that Dayton’s teachers and administrators have the necessary resources to continue the district’s improvement. The District’s teachers and administrators have shown they are on the right track and they deserve our support in continuing the District’s reform. The System’s success impacts not only the lives of its students, but also the vitality of our region. Our local economy needs well educated workers to succeed. And young professionals’ interest in Dayton is closely tied to the vitality of its schools. I think the vast majority of Daytonians recognize the importance of today’s vote, and I predict the levy will pass by at least 10 points.

By Dayton Teacher

May 8, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this

I voted NO! We waste to much, As a property owner I should not be taxed for the lack of funding when Congress said funding was unconstitutional, and does nothing to fix the problem. I voted no, because they will cut who they want to cut, when they want to cut them, I voted no because of the way they used scate tactics, I voted no because they promise us teachers all sorts of things, and never come through, I voted no because I’m the one making the sacrafices, and the Administration keeps getting bigger and bigger. I voted no because where I work, I have not had a raise adaquate to the cost of living, the 1.25% I got was long gone buying school supplies before the district asked me to fund the Levy advertising. I voted NO because it was too much to ask for, I voted no!! Fail 70% 30% pass

By Dayton teach

May 8, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this

I am also a Dayton teacher and Dayton voter. I absolutely voted yes! I moved into Dayton so my tax dollars would support the students I teach everyday. The superintendent, teachers, and parents have worked hard for the success we have had over the last few years. Until the state fixes the way schools are funded, the community needs to support the schools and students of Dayton. Someone supported us with their tax dollars. It is time for us to do the same. I think the levy will pass. 55% Yes. 45% No.

By Max & Natalie Fuller

May 8, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this

My wife and I have been fortunate to participate in a small way in the dramatic rebuilding process that the Dayton Public Schools have undertaken in the last few years. Though visually documented by the new school buildings under construction all over town, the really tough and arguably more important part of this rebuilding has been the building of a foundation for the continuous academic improvement that the district is now experiencing. Dollars from this levy will go directly to the costs associated with academic improvement, such as the retention of the teachers who are largely responsible for Dayton’s educational rebound. Passage of this levy is critical to the sustained growth and improvement of Dayton Public Schools, which directly impact the lives of our children, our future work force, costs of social services, property values, and the general outlook for economic development and jobs in Dayton and the surrounding region. The last operating levy passed was in 1992 (15 years ago), and the district is operating at near 50-cents on the dollar in some cases, which speaks volumes about the District’s commitment to cutting costs and controlling finances. Please join us in casting a YES vote for this high- return investment in Dayton’s future…The citizens of Dayton have a proud tradition of supporting our children through our shared educational system, and we feel confident that the importance of this vote will result in a 10+% margin of victory!!

By Buford

May 8, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this

I am a Dayton voter and property owner. I voted “No/Against” the levy. I would suspect ALL my family members will also vote against the levy - although I will not ask them - it is their right to choose. (I CAN pretty much bet my two adult DPS High School graduates will have voted against the levy). My family had the benefit of all the research and digging I did on DPS, the levy, the past levy, the Ohio Education rating of DPS as compared to other urban areas, etc. Plus, they heard things from me that I could not print in public forum - because the information might reveal the source and cause a good DPS employee problems in the work place. Whether the levy passes or not most likely will hinge on the renter/public assistance vote. If it were left to property owners, only, to vote in this election - there would be little doubt that the levy would fail miserably. As I have mentioned before, not only is it “wrong” to go after homeowners for school funding, circumstances have been set in place where our rights as property owners have become potentially subservient to the desires and dictates of renters and those on public assistance. If it passes, or fails, I would not expect it to be a runaway amount. Renters and public assistance recipients are far more likely to vote for the levy. Most senior citizen/property owners will vote against it. DPS employees (those who live in Dayton) are most likely to vote for the levy - for a number of reasons (job security, kids, potential for a pay raise out of the levy). Other property owners are most likely heavily weighted against the levy - because they realize it will be THEIRS TO PAY.

By Lindsy Hamilton

May 8, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this

I votes NO… I think that it will be close like 60% no and 40% yes i think it will fail.

By proud to be here

May 8, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

I am a Dayton Voter and a Dayton teacher and I proudly voted YES. I think the levy will Pass. (You should see the people flocking into this school to vote! 51% Yes 49% No