League of Women Voters Endorses School Levy

Editor's note: The Kent League of Women Voters recently endorsed the upcoming Kent City Schools levy on the May special election ballot.

Below you'll find a statement issued by the league regarding their endorsement.

For more information on the levy, which will be Issue 8 on the ballot, visit the Kent Levy Facebook page, KentLevy.org and follow Kent Patch for election coverage.

-The Editor

The League of Women Voters of Kent is endorsing, Issue 8, the 8.9-mill additional levy for Kent City Schools, on the May 7 ballot.

“The Kent League has completed an in-depth examination of the Kent City Schools’ need for additional money and the proposed uses of the money. Based on this review the League concluded that the levy is critical to maintaining a strong school system,” said Roberta O’Keefe, League president.

For the past 30 years the Kent League members have studied aspects of the school system, gathering information and talking with school officials. The organization developed a position statement  and periodically updates the position.

“With this new request for tax dollars, the League spent time asking numerous questions about the quality of education that is offered as well as the needs and the finances before making our decision,” O’Keefe explained.

The organization took into account that the district is rated “Excellent with Distinction,” the Ohio Department of Education’s highest rating. It recognized that average PSAT, SAT and ACT scores of Roosevelt High School students are higher than both U.S. and Ohio averages. The district has also earned “Above Expectations,” the highest rating from the state education department for Grades 4-8 Value-Added rankings.

“We believe that Kent schools prepare students to go out into the work world as well as on to college. Students graduate with tools to become good community members,” O’Keefe said.

League members took time to review the budget cutbacks made by the district before asking for additional tax dollars which included savings achieved through staff reductions, reduced equipment and supply costs, an energy savings program and voluntary salary freezes.

School officials demonstrated that the district’s budget has lost nearly $2.3 million in state support over the past two years and is anticipating additional decreases. They also provided information that the schools will receive very little additional revenue from the downtown rehabilitation. Significant cash deficits are projected without additional funds from a new levy. 

“We agree with the district’s plans to upgrade the technology available to students which we think is necessary to prepare them to work in today’s world. The Kent League also sees that the schools need to upgrade security systems. Safety in the schools is an investment the community has to make these days,” O’Keefe added.