Misquoted
I was misquoted in last week’s story, “Residents of Auburn, Troy Townships Oppose Troy Oaks Expansion Plans.”
It was reported Zoning Commission Alternate Jim Duralia believed the zoning commission would prefer commercial development on the parcel.
I never referenced my position as a member of the zoning commission or even gave my name at the meeting. The zoning commission has had no discussions nor has expressed any opinions regarding the Troy Oaks rezoning request to the best of my knowledge. This will occur at the upcoming public hearing.
It would be inappropriate for me to make any assumption or express any opinion as to the board’s view now. It would also be disrespectful to the other commission members to assume I spoke for them. The commission is comprised of five other intelligent and independent thinking members who are more than capable of voicing their position at the proper time.
The parcel Troy Oaks would like rezoned is currently zoned “Residential.” I never suggested it should be changed to “Commercial.”
I expressed my opinion as a resident of Troy Township and the view of many of my neighbors and friends in Troy.
Jim Duralia
Troy Township
Staying a Single District Not the only Option
About three years ago, I moved to Newbury Township to raise my family. I was born and raised here as part of a six-generation Newbury family. In weighing the decision of where to send my children for school, I evaluated the school district and found that it was very much in transition. From my point of view, that gave me hope that the district would make a decision to continue as a single district and refocus marketing for the school or become a part of a very exciting move to another district through a consolidation/merge.
I wanted the right decision to be made, so I jumped in with both feet and worked to pass that levy by working on the levy committee. Through this work and a commitment to see the district through their transition, I learned about the district, the township, its residents and the state. I learned that some of the issues we have are out of our current board’s control and reside in the state of Ohio’s budget. In speaking with state level officials, this will not be changing for the better anytime soon.
I found some issues that are very much under the control of our current board: lack of proactive education of Newbury’s constituents about the issues and not securing their input about decisions after providing unbiased information.
Along with the state budget and our declining enrollment (exacerbated by residents choosing other districts through open enrollment, home schooling, online schooling and parochial schools) the financial future of the school is dire. Some Newbury parents have always made the choice of a parochial school, but the other options, for whatever arguable reason there is for leaving the district, are accounting for the fact that we are losing 40 percent of potential students to other choices. The current third-grade class has a total class enrollment of just 17 children.
We need to adapt to these facts rather than spend time on defending them. The school board and superintendent have boxed themselves into a corner by the way they make their decisions. They put themselves into a position of defending their consolidation decision without any real facts as support. The lack of financial information available to the public or a true picture of the community’s input has created mistrust in this board’s decisions. What they have created is a divisive issue about the future of the school that has successfully divided some in our small community during a transition that had potential to rally the community behind its children.
During my evaluation of where to educate my children, I received no indication from the board that this district is stable enough to educate my children with a quality education for their K-12 experience. I’m conflicted by my long-standing loyalty and support for this community, and my commitment to the future of my children and the children of Newbury.
Staying a single district is NOT our only option. Why put further generations through this difficult burden when we can stop it now while we have those options?
Maggie Evans Zock
Newbury Township