Voters won’t be asked
Ohio votes to take no action
OHIO — The Ohio High School Board voted Monday to take no action in putting an advisory or binding question regarding the future of the high school on the Feb. 2 ballot.
The decision came at the end of a board meeting that saw several people speak as to why the high school should remain open.
Joan Anderson read a lengthy letter, which she said was mostly addressed to the Committee of 10, although few members were present. The committee was formed in August by 10 district residents, who planned to collect signatures to put the question as to whether Ohio should annex into the Princeton district on the ballot.
Anderson said the grade school and the high school meet all state requirements, students want the school kept in Ohio, and graduates are pleased with their educations.
She then directed a question to the committee.
“Why do you think you have the right to make the decision for the rest of us?” she said.
Anderson said children and homeowners have been upset by the debate and questioned whether it was more important to provide extras for intelligent kids by annexing than to care for those students who are average or below average.
Anderson said some people were using education to lower taxes or express a personal agenda and urged everyone to think of the children.
Sean Piper spoke next.
“It’s not about tearing this town apart,” he said. “It’s about keeping everything together; it’s building this community, making this community strong.”
Piper praised the teachers, especially science teacher Michael Kriz, and expressed his thoughts about the future of the high school.
“I want this baby to stay open,” he said. “This town’s like family.”
Karen Anderson said the Support the School group has 250 signatures against the annexation and keeping the school as is. She said the Committee of 10 had no backing and shouldn’t be able to “disrupt the education of our students and cause undue stress on the faculty, superintendent and the board.”
She praised the community efforts of some members of the Committee of 10 but offered some advice.
“Please find something more worthwhile to do with your time than trying to close Ohio High School,” she said.
Board President Harold Albrecht thanked the audience members for their comments.
“Thank you for not getting real mean to each other,” he said.
The board then discussed the future of the school.
“You’ve had time to review the committee report, examine the additional information, hear from our community, and also formulate your opinion of the data that’s been provided,” Superintendent Sharon Flesher said. “Now it comes to the tough decision, what is the future of the Ohio High School?”
Board member Lisa Ackerman said she had educational concerns with Princeton, saying its test scores were not as good as the Amboy School District, and that Princeton was having its own problems with its four-block schedule and class size. She said Ohio’s focus needed to be on what was best for the students.
“If you’re talking education, then taxes shouldn’t be involved,” she said.
Board member Carol Debruhl said she had come to a decision based on four facts. The facts were the district is financially stable, educating students comparably to neighboring schools, in no emergency situation, and is in a financially dependent relationship with the grade school.
“That’s a fact, folks,” she said. “If you close the high school, chances are we could close the grade school.”
Based on those facts and the unknown factor of the impact of the wind farms, Debruhl said the board should not act until more information is available.
“It would be premature and actually irresponsible to make a decision at this point,” she said.
Board member Robert Gonigam also urged waiting.
“We’re not in financial trouble, really, and there’s plenty of time,” he said.
The board could have taken no action, but Albrecht said it would be good to have something on the record. Debruhl made a motion to take no action at this time. The question was approved on a 5-1-1 vote, with Lisa Ackerman casting the negative ballot, and Tim Snodgrass absent from the meeting.
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