To the Editor:
In response to Mr. Kean's letter, I would like to say thank you for the opportunity for discussion on the failure of the school bond issue. My name is Bonnie Little and I am the one who's sign said, "vote no."

I will try to answer your questions in the order you asked them.

First of all, you mentioned I was elected to the board with the promise of "no new schools," but the truth is I didn't promise anyone anything. I just ran for the position. The particulars of the school bond issue had been worked out by school administration and other board members before I was sworn in as a board member. I did not have the opportunity to vote on whether the bond issue would be presented for a vote. I can tell you if the bond issue had passed, I resolved to accept that outcome, smile and be happy with those who were happy about it. If the majority voted for it, that's what would be best. In fact, I can't say I'm against new schools, there is much more to it than just new schools.

Our school administrators and my fellow board members worked very  hard on the presentation of the bond issue and I believe they did so because they genuinely hoped to fix the problems the school district is facing. The problem was the majority (for a variety of reasons) of our school district did not want their children bused to a new three-building campus on SR 332. They did not like the Master Plan.

Do I have a better plan? All I have is some information that may be helpful to share. I know many who voted against the bond issue would rather renovate and keep the small schools open.

Impossible? Other districts are doing it. Cost twice as much? How would we know until all the homework was done as to what needs repaired? If our district's parents are more confident in their child's school location, I believe this would make for a more confident and content student. Our community has very good problem solving skills and they need to know they are being listened to. They love their children and grandchildren as much as anyone ever did but we are experiencing "property tax fatigue." Our economy has been described  as "stay-flation" - meaning our wages and jobs are doing nothing while the prices of everything we need goes up. Arguing about who has or doesn't have the money to do something will get us nowhere. If the state decided property taxes to fund schools is illegal and the state can't figure out how to carry through with its own laws, maybe we need some new people in government.

Senator Kirk Schuring from Stark County has proposed an amendment to fix school funding. To get Senator Schuring's proposed Constitutional amendment on the November ballot, both members of legislature will have to approve the measure before the first week in August. I've been following this story and it's looking very good for the proposal. Similar plans have fixed school funding in Michigan and Kentucky. In Kentucky, the Supreme Court also ordered the abolishment of the entire Dept. of Education so it could be rebuilt. In the process, they cut the jobs of some long-term bureaucrats, made the department more efficient and found a way to lower reliance on property tax to fund education.

When Ohio's method of funding schools was declared unconstitutional, not once but four times, political leaders ignored the Ohio Supreme Court and instead built new schools, even as the system remained reliant on property taxes. This is a real problem for us right now, but if Kentucky and Michigan did it, there is hope for us as well. Be aware that many say school funding will never be fixed. If we hold to that opinion, it surely never will. Politicians understand one language: votes. A large unified voice must say if they don't fix the problem, we will not vote for them. Contact Governor Strickland, but remember he can't do it by himself. We must contact our state legislators and representatives also. Contact them at www.ohio.gov/ or just get their address from the newspapers and send copies of letters every month or as often as you can.

In closing, I would like to say that by putting  "vote no" on my sign, I did not intend to deeply offend anyone. Adversity can be a good thing. Even with all our problems, we should focus on what we have going for us. One positive thing I see is a willingness on the part of our school administration and board members to reach out to our community of concerned citizens. United we stand. Then, if we are praying for the will of God for Carrollton School, nothing can stop us form finding the right solution.

Bonnie Little
Carrollton, OH