Board members should back levies

Although I don't live in the Lima school district, I did attend school there from kindergarten though grade 12 and I taught in the system for 30 years, so I have an interest in what is happening.

I understand Bobbi McGinnis thinks there must be a better and/or fairer way to fund public schools. So did the Ohio Supreme Court, but even the court has been unable to effect any change.

What I do not understand is how a school board member who purports to be pro-child and pro-education can come out against a renewal levy. This levy has been on the books for nearly 30 years. Voting it down is not going to change how schools are financially supported. This levy is not about choosing property taxes or income taxes as a source of funding; it's about continuing an established source of funding. This renewal levy needs to pass so Lima can, at the very least, avoid any further cuts in services while the debate over the property versus income tax issue rages on.

My hat is off to Ann Jacobs of the Shawnee school board. She has issues with going to the voters in these difficult times, but she realizes "it is really important for boards to unanimously support levies" (The Lima News, Aug. 20). I only hope McGinnis will see the wisdom in taking a similar position.