To the editor:
The voters of the Indian Creek Local School District have an opportunity to spend other people's money on March 6. A winning majority will bring $7 million in state public facilities aid to our school district to build a new, adequate high school. Other local funding will pay to repair the other aging structures in our school district.
The problems of our high school building are by now legendary. Too small by far, too 1940s in most respects, too far gone for the state to consider repair or upgrading is the Indian Creek High School.
The state exceptional needs aid is offered to school districts that possess a school building of such remarkable shortcoming as to win a contest against other school districts with similar problems. To be fair, our high school didn't win - it was only the second-worst building in the entire state of Ohio in the exceptional needs sweepstakes for that fiscal year. But sometimes coming in No. 2 brings rewards, and the state of Ohio awarded the millions toward the building of our new high school.
It is important to note that the state of Ohio doesn't award grants under this program for the renovation or upgrading of decrepit school buildings. It would seem that in this endeavor at least they are truly not interested in wasting the taxpayers' money. For repair and upgrading, the state is willing for us to follow our every whim as long as we are willing pay the whole bill ourselves. Let us remember that the state's exceptional needs funding has a short shelf life. The funding is withdrawn if the school district does not come up with it share of local funding.
So let us take heart in the good fortune of our state's good intentions and some good timing. A hefty state grant, historically low borrowing rates in the bond markets and a high-performing school district make for perhaps a never-to-be-seen-again bargain relative to supporting an already successful educational enterprise. Moving forward, our children need an adequately sized, all-weather teaching facility with modern security features. The 1940s were great. I was born just about the same year this high school was built. But just as I contemplate Social Security and my retirement, it is beyond time to replace our high school.
Our high school needs no longer to be anyone's No. 2. Our children are certainly not. Our teachers and administrators are certainly not. At Indian Creek, we proudly strive for the best. Please join with us on March 6 to vote "Yes." Call (740) 264-3502 if you have questions.
Thank you.
Ted Starkey
Steubenville
