Van Wert teacher in line for state school board seat

LIMA - A Van Wert teacher will likely become the region's next state school board member.

Tracey Smith was the only candidate to file for the District 1 seat, which encompasses 24 counties. The deadline was Thursday, but someone could still file as a write-in candidate until Sept. 3.

Smith hopes to give schools in the region a voice.

 "Northwest Ohio needs to have a strong advocate," she said. "There does not seem to be a whole lot of attention paid to our successes or to some of the struggles that we have in Columbus. The attention seems to be monopolized by the more urban districts"

Originally from Cleveland, Smith, 33, first worked in college admissions in Indiana. She began teaching high school social studies at Van Wert High School eight years ago.

She is on sabbatical and working on her doctorate in educational leadership at the University of Dayton. Smith and her students in Van Wert spent a year studying school funding, and she has been involved with the Ohio Youth Voices initiative, involving youth in discussing education.

The biggest issue Smith wants to tackle is communication. Citing trust issues, she says families, business leaders and legislators need to communicate better and believes that could improve relationships and get levies passed.

"Legislators add mandates without adding funding, and then turn their backs when we have to be the people that say, ‘Well, now we need more money,'" she said.

Lou Ann Harrold, of Ada, is completing her first term, but is not running again. She was a teacher for 23 years and Hardin County schools superintendent for 10 years.

Voters in Allen County will see plenty of candidates on the November ballot, but few issues. While voters will get to choose a new president, sheriff and other office holders, and possibly six state issues, they will face just one countywide levy.

The four organizations that provide services for the county's seniors are seeking a 0.3 mill renewal levy for Senior Citizens Services. The five-year levy is expected to raise $432,000 a year, to be split between the Allen County Council on Aging and senior services groups in Lima, Bluffton and Delphos.

Perry Township voters will see two fire service levies on the ballot. The township is seeking a 0.5 mil, five-year renewal and a second 1 mill, five-year renewal, both for fire and emergency services. Jackson Township is hoping to pass a 0.75 mill, five-year levy for its fire service. And the village of Cairo is going for a 2.5 mill, five-year renewal levy for village services.

Just two schools in the county are seeking funds this election. Shawnee schools will ask voters to pass a 4.24 mill, five-year renewal levy. The money is for general operations. Lima schools will place a five-year, 1.89 mill renewal emergency levy on the ballot. It raises $625,000 a year for operations and has been approved by voters since 1979.

Van Wert County voters will see a number of issues, including renewal levies for Harrison, Liberty, Tully, Union and Willshire townships. The villages of Convoy and Scott will ask for 2 mill, five-year levies for fire services. And the Tully-Convoy Park District is hoping to pass a 0.3 mill, five-year renewal for current expenses.

Van Wert schools will seek a 1 percent income tax renewal for five years. Lincolnview schools is hoping to pass a 2.5 mill, five-year levy for permanent improvements. And Vantage Career Center is floating a 1.2 mill, 28-year bond issue and another 0.8 mill, five-year renewal for current expenses.

In Hardin County, the city of Kenton is hoping for a 0.8 mill replacement levy for operation of Grove Cemetery. The Hardin County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities is asking for a 4 mill replacement levy for operations. Ada schools is seeking a 2.9 mill, five-year permanent-improvement levy. And Upper Scioto Valley is asking for a 1 percent annual income tax for current expenses.