Officials in the Ironton School District can learn a lesson from Tuesday’s third and final defeat of a proposed school bond issue that would have provided matching funds to bring more than $30 million to the district.

Thursday, August 10, 2000

Officials in the Ironton School District can learn a lesson from Tuesday’s third and final defeat of a proposed school bond issue that would have provided matching funds to bring more than $30 million to the district.

Getting a levy passed isn’t as easy as it looks – even if the result is a positive for the community.

Ironton is the last of the county’s schools to get the chance at money from the State Building Assistance Program. The program provides funds to districts to remodel existing buildings or to build new structures.

With the failure of the South Point levy, Ironton has probably moved up the list and could be eligible for money now that South Point voters have sent the funds back to the state.

So, that means district officials should be making plans now for how they are going to avoid a three-defeat repeat.

Just so Ironton voters know, there is no downside to a School Building Assistance Program grant from the state. Your school district gets access to millions of dollars with only a minimal local contribution and the money can only be used for facilities’ improvement.

The small amount that taxes go up – and in most cases it really is proportionally small – is offset by the boost new school facilities give your district. A home that is located in a good school district with first-class facilities is worth more than one in a district with dilapidated structures and outdated equipment.

South Point voters obviously had their reasons when they decided to turn down the state’s offer. Maybe those who voted no simply did not think the proposal was that good a deal.

But Ironton voters should think long and hard now about the direction they want for their district. When the time comes, it is important that this city set some priorities and really examine the pros and cons of the state’s offer.

Make no mistake. It is not a chance that comes along often.