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CCC board spreading word about levy

CHESAPEAKE — With the 2012 primary ballot less than two months away, the board of directors for Collins Career Center is moving forward to spread the word about a levy that would bring in money to help maintain the campus of the county’s only career and technical school.

That was one of the topics of the school’s organization meeting on Jan. 5.

Superintendent Steve Dodgion said the five-year financial forecast of the school would be bleak if the levy doesn’t pass.

“It has become shockingly apparent that if we’re not able to pass the levy, (CCC) will have major financial problems,” he said.

Dodgion said he is working on scheduling events to meet with organizations and civic groups to talk about the levy.

In December, CCC filed to have a half-mill permanent improvement levy added to the March 2012 primary ballot. The levy would bring in about $300,000 a year for the school to keep in a Ohio School Facilities Commission mandated set-aside fund to maintain the campus once its $22 million renovation project is complete.

CCC had the levy for about 20 years until it lapsed two years ago, but Dodgion said he felt confident that voters would approve it again.

Without the levy, he said, the reality would mean personnel and program cuts, although no specific plans have been made yet.

This year’s new board president, Jerry Osborne, said the funding the levy would provide is essential to keep the programs going at CCC.

“The administration has worked really hard to get all the programs at the school,” Osborne said.

Osborne studied to be an electrician and graduated from the school 32 years ago and has been employed with AEP ever since.

“What I would like people to understand is there are so many programs to prepare young people,” he said.

The school offers the same constructions technologies, like electricity and heating and air conditioning, that was offered when Osborne attended. But now curriculum includes courses in pre-nursing, early childhood education, cosmetology, nursing and criminal science, among others.

The need is great to get the levy passed, Osborne said, and he looks forward to look working with the board in the coming year.

“I’m glad to be a small part of it,” he said.

Vice president for this year’s board is Robert Pleasant. Other board members are Tim Johnson, Ray Malone and Ronald Hayes.

The board will meet at 6 p.m. the last Monday of each month at the Chesapeake campus.