Edgewood school board candidates agree communication is key

Board members Jim Wirtley and Gary Gabbard defended the district’s decision to reassign elementary-grade students to different buildings based on grade level versus location. This April decision brought on a July lawsuit filed in Butler County Common Pleas Court. Though the lawsuit was not brought up specifically, the decision, referred to as “redistricting” by the candidates, was the primary topic of disagreement of challengers versus the incumbents.

Wirtley, who serves as the school board’s president, said the goal of redistricting is meant to bring the community together, saying “it’s very important and hopefully we can get past where we are right now.”

He said redistricting is not the biggest issue facing the district. He said the district will need to seek an operating levy in 2022 and communication with the public on why it’s a need is important.

“Unlike households, we can’t operate in the red,” said Wirtley, adding that about 85 percent of the school’s budget is dedicated to personnel and benefits. “It’s very important for us to have the money so we don’t have to cut staff and teachers and keep them in the classroom educating our children, and try to give them the best education we can.”

Gabbard agreed the levy is the “most pressing” issue for the 3,500-student school district. He echoed Wirtley’s point of needing to communicate why the district needs a new levy.

With regards to redistricting, he said the public “needs to give it a chance.”

“I know it’s long bus rides, I think (redistricting is) best for our students,” Gabbard said.

Candidate Marc Messerschmitt agreed the district’s finances is an issue that needs to be addressed, but he’s been told by voters they won’t support a tax levy because they “feel underrepresented” in the way the district rolled out redistricting and handled the COVID-19 pandemic. In August, the board announced it would remain mask optional after three confirmed COVID cases resulted in quarantining of more than 100 people.

“It’s going to be very difficult to get people who do not believe right now in the school board that we need to get an operating levy view,” said Messerschmitt.

Candidate Molly Broadwater said the financial issues require a detailed review before a levy is on the ballot.

“If we really want to have a conversation for a need for an operational levy then we should dive deeper into the operational expenses,” she said. “Every household has to live within a budget and the school should do the same.”

Broadwater, who said her three children have to get on three different buses, also said redistricting would be brought back up if she’s elected, as did candidate Andrew Pressler.

“I would like to bring it back to the table,” said Pressler. “I’m not saying it wasn’t the right decision. My thing is the lack of communication, the way it went down, was the biggest issue of the whole thing. You have to get the whole community to buy in, and as of right now, I’m not bought in.”

Similarly, Sexton was more opposed to how redistricting was rolled out, but agreed with one of the goals redistricting is supposed to accomplish, which is unity.

“The biggest thing that Edgewood is facing right now is bringing our community back together,” said Sexton. Edgewood serves the city of Trenton, village of Seven Mile, and Wayne Twp. “We are all here for the same thing, and one district and wanting to make sure it’s top-notch and our students are successful.”

Candidates Elizabeth Keith and Alexis Zehler were unable to attend Thursday’s forum hosted by the Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton.

Election Day is Nov. 2, but voters can cast early votes now during the week at the Butler County Board of Elections until Nov. 1, and the weekend before the general election, which is Oct. 30 and 31.

EARLY VOTING HOURS

Oct. 25-29: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Oct. 30: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Oct. 31: 1-5 p.m.

Nov. 1: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

SOURCE: Ohio Secretary of State