I’m tired of hearing the argument against the levy. Not passing the levy would only serve to hurt the community. Cabell County’s population has been declining for decades, and because of that state funding for the school district is lower, even as costs continue rise. The excess levy helps to offset some of these costs, and funds many vital facets of our school system.
As a member of the community for 21 years, the father of three students attending Cabell County Schools, and a teacher in the district, the safety and well being of my kids is paramount. The levy will continue to provide school resource officers within our schools. This is extremely vital to the security of schools in the 21st century. Without the passage of the levy, it is unlikely all middle and high schools would have a police officer on site.
In addition, it is no secret that the state has over 1,600 teaching positions that are currently filled by uncertified teachers. Cabell County has been fortunate to not be as negatively impacted by this statistic than other counties that have lower pay for their employees. The levy funds ensure that employees in Cabell county are offered a competitive wage to the states and counties that surround us. As with other professions, school employees have been grappling with rising costs, small cost of living increases that fall far behind inflation, and rising insurance premiums.
Cabell County employees insurance benefits and retirements are supported by levy funds. Having highly qualified teachers is connected to student success and without levy funds, many of those highly qualified teachers would move on to districts that can compensate them for their abilities. Being in the Tri-State area, this is even more crucial with surrounding states already paying more to their teachers than West Virginia.
The proposed levy provides additional money for so many students supports such as protecting them from online dangers using cybersecurity summer programs, and for vital schools supplies. It is just one of the services that is provided that is going unnoticed.
Parks and libraries are generously supported by the levy. In fact, 4.5% of the levy, totaling $1.3 million, is directed to them. The money allocated is equivalent to the same percentage of the levy that Kanawha County gives as part of their levy. In fact, Cabell would by far be giving more money to parks and libraries with this levy than any county in West Virginia besides Kanawha County that has a much higher tax base. Please vote yes on the levy. The levy will be beneficial to the community as a whole and will support the future generation.
I realize their are some who would be willing to vote no on the levy to prove a point, but in the end, that stubborn stance would only hurt the schools, students, teachers, parks, libraries and the community as a whole because if it doesn’t pass then no one gets anything and major cuts will come to all those services in the community. A vote for the levy is a vote for our students future while still ensuring our parks and libraries have proper funding to support the community.
Brian Casto is an educator at Milton Middle School. He was the 2022 West Virginia Teacher of the Year.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
