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| Friday September 03, 2010 | Sidney Daily News Online - 937-498-5939 |
| 11/4/2009 8:03:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Sidney High School students Brittany Teegarden, (left), 17, and Jenny Fair, 16, both of Sidney, hug after initial results on the screen behind them showed the Sidney Schools operating levy failing. “I have a lot of pride in my school and seeing Sidney cut like this is going to effect me for the rest of my life,” was Fair’s reaction to the results. Fair is active in choir, band, track, art, and AP classes, all areas that face being cut. Teegarden is the daughter of Rick and Brenda Teegarden. Fair is the daughter of Jace and Sandy Fair.
SDN Photo/Luke Gronneberg |
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Just 43 votes
Sidney School levy defeated again
By Darrin Michael
Staff writer
As of Tuesday evening, the Sidney City Schools 9.9-mill, five-year emergency operating levyappeared to have failed by 43 votes, but the official outcome has yet to be determined.
Unofficial results from Tuesday's general election indicate the levy was defeated by a vote of 4,335 in favor (49.75 percent) to 4,378 against (50.25 percent). But county election officials said there are still approximately 306 provisional ballots left to be counted in the county - some of which could affect the outcome of the Sidney Schools levy vote.
"Unfortunately, folks with interest in any close races are going to be sitting on pins and needles," said Shelby County Board of Elections member Christopher Gibbs. The final tally will be determined on Nov. 16.
According to election officials, provisional ballots are taken when an individual arrives at a polling place and may not have all his or her personal information in order or may have some other abnormality. One example would be when an individual's address on a driver's license does not match what the board of elections has on record. After an individual votes, the provisional ballot is then separated into a sealed envelope along with the voter's personal information. The board of elections will then later make a determination on each individual's eligibility to vote in that precinct.
With the official results yet to be known, school officials say they are optimistic.
"We're trying to stay positive and keep the morale up of both students and the community," said Superintendent Pat O'Donnell Tuesday evening. "As of now it is too close to call."
Following a special election last August, the district ended up receiving more than 40 votes in favor of the levy when provisional ballots had been counted and official results were in.
"We're confident we can still pull this through."
The latest levy attempt had divided the community significantly, with dozens of letters to the editor, meetings and open discussion taking place. Opponents generally felt the schools had not tightened their belts enough and that times were economically too tough, while proponents argued for the future of the city's children.
The district's first attempt at passing a money issue was a 1.5 percent income tax levy in 1997, followed by unsuccessful attempts to pass a 9.9-mill property tax levy in November 2008 and May and August 2009.
Pending the official results of Tuesday's election, if the levy does not pass the district will be forced to make a number of additional cuts that will include the elimination of various curricular programs, extra-curricular programs and the jobs of approximately 47 more employees. Some of the programs to be cut include art, music and sports.
If the levy passes, school officials indicate busing will return (including for Sidney Christian Academy and Lehman Catholic High School), pay-to-play fees will be significantly reduced (closer to the original $35) and approximately five aides will be brought back.
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