Jan 15, 2025
GROVEPORT, Ohio (WCMH) -- Voters in the Groveport Madison School District will once again be asked to vote on Issue 38.  This comes after a vote Monday to place a bond levy back on the ballot in May. The funds raised by the bond defeated in November would have been used to build three new middle schools and an addition to the high school.    May's bond issue is a 2.33 mills levy which would cost about $81.55 per $100,000 of assessed property value. That is less than a $3 decrease from the 2.44 mills levy voters rejected in November.    Amy Shropshirre, a longtime Groveport resident, said she needs more answers from the district. "I'm hesitant to say that I support it," Shropshirre said. "I would need to see more concrete evidence of what are the plans and how are we going to make sure that what is being planned for actually gets done and makes a difference."  Shropshirre has a five-year-old daughter she plans to put through the district. She wants more communication from the district before she decides her vote.   Meantime, Eric Kaltenborn has three children in the school district. He said he plans to vote no.   "Frankly, I can't justify giving them any more money when they gave the superintendent a significant pay raise over the last year or so, and we're not getting any more service for the money that we've given them," Kaltenborn said.  One of Kalentborn's main concerns is school safety.   "The school safety in all the schools is lacking," Kaltenborn said. "The fights seemed to have curbed themselves some lately, but they still have some significant problems there and they need to solve some of those problems before I'll validate giving them any more money."  "I don't want to say we shouldn't put resources into combating those things, but what is that going to solve," Shropshirre said. "What are the resources? What is more space or another school? There's just so many questions that I'm not seeing being answered. I would like to see more thought put into those things before doing something where we're just going to say, yeah we're going to put more money into the issue."  According to other voters, they used to vote yes on all school issues, but in today's economy, they can't afford to pay more in taxes. Others say they're concerned because they have yet to see a comprehensive plan from the district on how they plan to reduce violence in schools.   According to the district, two of the current middle schools have an open classroom concept which has led to distracting learning environments and safety and security concerns.   "You got to provide a value for me if I'm going to spend more money," Kaltenborn said. "My kids are getting a good education. That's a that's a foregone conclusion. They do a relatively good job there. But I do have some significant concerns as it relates to safety."   Other voters said they plan to vote in favor of the levy, saying it’s important to invest in future generations.  "I'm a Groveport graduate, all that," Shropshirre said. "I want to support the schools, but I have also seen how some of the funds have not been used maybe in a way that are well or it's always coming back and asking for more when there should have been a little bit more insight."   We've reached out to the school district for new comment but have yet to hear back.   
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