The Greenville Levy
It’s really about the kids
By Bob Robinson 

“Why won’t Greenville support us?” 

Two sharp, talented Greenville High School students asked that question a few years back… it was after voters had defeated an earlier attempt to approve a new school facility. 

I didn’t have an answer for them. I’d heard “reasons.” They’ve been discussed ad-nauseam. The question these two seniors asked has haunted me over the years. Not one of the “reasons” was about the kids, but how to make them understand that? Would it make a difference? 

From their perspective the voters had a chance to support them and they declined. 

This August voters will once again have an opportunity to provide our future leaders with the best education possible. We have a new skipper at the helm, GCSD Superintendent Doug Fries, and the timing is right. It’s a new ballgame. 

Fries was kind enough to work me into his hectic schedule earlier this week to discuss the proposed levy. 

You’ll be hearing a lot about bringing the school facilities into 21st Century technology, online assessments, meeting today’s national content standards, better security, a longer funding cycle, low interest rates and the best opportunity we are likely to have to get some of our money back from the state. You’ll hear about the cost savings of a new structure over the maintenance expenses of old buildings, one of which “celebrated” its one-hundredth birthday last year. You’ll be hearing about that and more. It’s time to meet those needs. 

For me it’s simple. It’s about the kids. 

I’ve had the privilege of being a substitute teacher in the District for the past two years, as well as an Edison Community College instructor for more than 10 years. Several of my Edison classes have included post-secondary students (high school juniors and seniors). 

The talent, intelligence and desire to learn I’ve seen in most of these students is amazing. From kindergartners excited about the new world they are entering to seniors planning to make their mark in fields of medical technology, structural engineering, veterinary medicine and more, we have much to be proud of in our students and the teachers who are helping them achieve their goals. 

Unfortunately, desire, talent and the old way of doing things is no longer enough. Our kids have to compete in a global economy and a highly technical society. In junior high our kids are learning algebra and trigonometry, courses I didn’t have until high school. High school students are tackling chemistry, applied science and calculus that I never saw until college. Providing today’s technology in outdated facilities is a major challenge right now. 

I often ask my students if they plan to return to Darke County after college. The vast majority say they want to… if they can find jobs. That’s reasonable. They are incurring tremendous expense to get their educations, usually with residual debt that has to be repaid. 

The Business Advisory Council unanimously supports this levy proposal. Why? Because businesses prefer to hire locally! Employers considering relocation or expansion want to see a community that supports education and its youth. 

They want to see “Strong Schools for a Strong Community.” 

Many of today’s voters are retired. Some, like me, are “working retired.” We’ve raised our kids, so why should we be educating someone else’s? How about our grandkids? Nieces, nephews, cousins… most of us have family who are going to Greenville Schools or soon will be. 

Fries said that the District’s goal is to give our kids the same opportunities as everyone else. Yours. Mine. Ours. They are all Greenville’s kids. 

Today’s children will be tomorrow’s leaders. It’s time to give them an equal playing field. 

Reprinted courtesy of The Early Bird