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Don’t be swayed by misinformation

After I got over being disgusted over the ad placed in the Oct. 19 edition of The Inter-Mountain, I really had to chuckle.  The reason being, the quote could not have been me, Donna Auvil, because I would not have said “We have nothing to LOOSE.” What I would have said and did say was “We have nothing to LOSE.” “LOOSE” is something that is not tight, such as “a screw loose,” or something that is free or unfettered, such as “the monkeys are loose from the zoo.”

I do recall that particular meeting, Aug. 16, and I also recall folks being at that meeting with a recording device.  My advice to this Association is, ask to hear the entire recording before an ad is printed because if you had, you would have heard what I did say.

In actuality, what was being discussed was whether to run the excess levy on the November ballot. After the November 2015 election, RCS had a survey online asking what citizens would support in an excess levy. One objection was running a special election for an excess school levy. So, in discussing the pros and cons of running that levy in November 2016, I said, “We have nothing to lose” because there would be NO cost since it would be on a general election. Mrs. Wamsley was referring to the same thing when she said, “We aren’t out anything or an immediate cost to the Board.”

Secondly, the statement, “if the employees are offered a benefit package, then the consumer pays for it” is only a small portion of what I said. We were discussing optical and dental in this levy call, and I simply pointed out that if a retail business gave their employees any kind of benefit package, the consumer bears the cost. My meaning was, those businesses do not “eat” the cost; it is added into the cost of items we purchase. We don’t stop buying because a business offers their employees benefits.

Lastly, Mr. Smith answered a question on how much it would cost and he replied that those figures would be worked out after the election, meaning that each amount of each item would not be on the ballot. Common sense tells us every line item cannot be printed on the ballot, but this was just another way to discredit an employee.

Next, I call your attention to the ad run on Oct. 17, which cited three instances in which the Board had “lied” and they provided “the Truth.” No, the Board DID NOT lie, and following is the TRUTH.

• 1 — The Randolph County Board of Education said they would reduce the levy amount in the May 2016 excess from $2.8 million to $1.96 million. The TRUTH is after defeat of the excess school levy in November 2015 (which was a renewal), and after the online survey was calculated whereby citizens were asked what they would support, the amount was reduced from $2.8 million to $1.960 million in the May 2016 election. Again, the levy call was defeated.

• 2 — The Randolph County Board of Education said they would reduce the number of years in May 2016. The TRUTH is after the online survey was calculated whereby citizens were asked what they would support, the years were reduced to three in the May 2016 election, which would have been 2016, 2017 and 2018. This also was defeated.

• 3 — The Randolph County Board of Education said funds would go to help educate the students in May 2016. The TRUTH is the levy was defeated in May 2016.  The Randolph County BOE did exactly what they said they would.

This is a completely revamped excess levy call, which is on the Nov. 8 ballot.

These are the facts:

• 1 — During the previous five-year excess school levy, Class II taxes were at 18.88 cents on $100 and Class III and IV were 37.76 per $100, which raised $2.8 million dollars. For the proposed four-year excess levy, Class II taxes are 15.52 cents per $100 and Class III and Class IV are now 31.04 cents per $100. The TRUTH IS the actual percentage has been reduced but amount of money raised would be $2.9 million dollars due to reevaluation of property taxes.

• 2 — For this proposed excess school levy, a benefit package of optical and dental has been included. The TRUTH is Randolph County is only one of thirteen (13) counties in West Virginia without an excess levy. In other words, forty-two (42) counties have an excess school levy; and, twenty (20) counties have a school bond. Seventeen counties have both a levy and a bond. Of those counties which have a school levy, the majority have a benefit package for their employees.

• 3 — The TRUTH is during the past five years, with excess school levy funds, Coalton, Harman, George Ward and Midland Schools each have gotten a new roof, as well as a new roof on the Board Office. Also, George Ward and North Elementary Schools both were equipped with new HVAC units, as well as monies toward Harman School for renovations due to a partial roof collapse. All materials and supplies were provided for every student in Randolph County Schools. During the past five years, no student athlete had to pay an athletic fee and costs for entry to athletic events were kept to a minimum. And, lastly, I mention all the numbers of computers and technology that have been provided for our school children. Randolph County Schools has been on the leading edge of technology in preparing students for the future.  These are just a few of the TRUTHS regarding the five-year excess school levy.

I find it inconceivable that they believe you and I, people with common sense, would automatically take the word of a few without checking out the facts. If you want confirmation of what was said, there is a recording. There is always another side in any argument or situation. Too many times, a person(s) will fabricate, leave out facts, or add a little something to persuade you to believe them. That does not make it correct or right. If you have questions or don’t understand something, ask. I further take exception to the constant slander and accusations that I am lying or bullying. If anyone is being bullied it would be myself and the citizens of Randolph County by being threatened if they vote for the levy. This is a free country, and we are fortunate to have the privilege of voting.

I am going to give you a little history of the situation of Randolph County Schools and its financial situation. All systems in West Virginia are funded based on student enrollment, at an estimated amount of $5,000 to $6,000 per student. So, having said that, in 1983, when I first started working for Randolph County Schools, the county had 15 schools and a student enrollment that year of 5,584 students. In June, 2016, 33 years later, student enrollment was 3,997 and we have 15 schools.  We have lost over 1,500 students and funding does not change. Also, some years ago, our federal government passed the Secure Rural Schools and Self Determination Act, whereby the government paid monies to states which had large acreages of government land. The reason being no taxes were being received on that property so this was in lieu of property taxes. In the beginning, Randolph County Schools received upwards of $1 million.  Since that time, the monies have dwindled to FY 2008, $402,318.0; FY 2012 $289,178; and FY 2016, $275,165. Another huge cut of funds to Randolph County Schools is Medcaid reimbursement for services; FY 2008 $539,101.; FY 2012 $590,893; and FY 2016 $67,952.

I close with these remarks: do we honestly want our children to fall behind other states or even other counties in West Virginia? As a grandmother, I want my grandchildren to have the same opportunity as all other children. The facts are Randolph County Schools is audited every year and every account, file, invoice, purchase order, expenditure can be looked at. Do not be swayed by a few regarding the future of your children, grandchildren and this beautiful county.

I, Donna Auvil, write this as a citizen of Randolph County and not as a representative of the Randolph County Board of Education. Thank you.

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