Early voting started April 9 and one thing a lot of people in Brown County are talking about is the school referendum. Brown County Schools are hoping passage of the referendum will result in $1,879,000 going to the schools.
Emily Tracy, Brown County Schools Superintendent, told the Democrat that the school board has received support from the community with people donating to their campaign and volunteering their time.
She said that there have been members from all four townships volunteering to campaign door-to-door closer to the primary.
“I feel like on our end, I feel really good. We have a strong community presence,” Tracy said. “I have a great feeling about it. If you don’t have any hope, you might as well just give up now.”
Tracy said that they plan on having volunteers at the polls on May 7 to answer any last-minute questions before people place their votes.
Many voters have mixed opinions on the referendum and what it means for the community. Duane Parsons, Alcoholic Beverage Board Commissioner, said he has mixed emotions and thinks the voting would be very close on either side.
“I would like to see more factual data of where the money is going to go,” Parsons said. “I went to their seminar, but the figures aren’t lining up.”
He said that he would prefer the taxpayers’ money to go to other parts of our community that would affect a larger population than just the people with connections to the schools.
“I’m hoping it has more to do with students and schools than salary,” Parsons said. “I am a pro-skilled tradesman. Colleges are great … but college is not for everyone,” Parsons said. He added, “Our school system needs a hard look at what should be our priorities.”
Blake Wolpert, Brown County Commissioner, said it’s not that he does not want to pay the teachers, but doesn’t think that would be an immediate solution.“I wish you could just pay the teachers more and that would fix the problem but it wouldn’t. I feel like its about a 50/50 shot that it passes.”
The school board had a community conversation regarding the referendum on Tuesday at the Cordry-Sweetwater Conservancy District Board Meeting in Nineveh.
They will be having two more community conversations with board members and teachers and they are open to the public to attend and ask questions.
The next community conversation will be on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Fruitdale Fire Department (5200 N State Road 135, Morgantown). There will also be another conversation on April 30 at 6 p.m. at the Southern Brown Fire Department (4040 State Road 135 S).
For any other questions regarding the referendum or community conversations, people are encouraged to contact Tracy at (260) 460-7873.
