I am in favor of passing the Belpre School Levy to promote our school system and community as a whole. All should know that the future of the system depends on us. We as voting citizens can make passing the levy a reality.

This levy will enable our school board to facilitate the present and future needs of our school system. I relish the time that I was in the building every day and part of a staff providing students a topflight education. Presently, that is not the case. Our system and our students are suffering. We need these funds to continue to provide the best of teachers, buildings, transportation, and extracurricular activities. As a member of this community and former educator/coach, I know how important this is.

Belpre education from past years has been top notch and produced quality citizens. I am in touch with many of these students on a daily basis and am witness to their contributions to this community, as well as places across the country. Taxes are necessary to continue the quality education of our students now and in the future. Many citizens believe or wish that the state would take care of all school expenses, but that is not the case in the State of Ohio. Our state requires that the local citizens fund their own schools with levies. We need to do our part for the good of our own community.

Belpre will continue to be a fine place to live, work and play, if we support our students in the here and now. Going forward in a positive direction requires we pass a school levy.

Ralph Holder

Former educator BHS

Former coach 1961-96

Belpre