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Clay artist gets to know school’s fallen heroes By J. Patrick Eaken Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com
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OPENING THURSDAY
Clay sophomore Ally Hommel next to her finished work — the painted names of Clay’s fallen heroes. (Photo by Clay High School yearbook staff writer Delaney Wolf)
Oregon
Schools organize support for levy By Kelly J. Kaczala Press News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com Although it’s months away, the Oregon City School District is rallying community support of a 3.95-mill levy that will be on the November ballot. Voters have rejected three previous attempts by the district to get an operating levy passed The financially strapped district would collect $1.9 million annually if the levy passes. It would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $138 annually. Voters have rejected three previous attempts by the district to get an operating levy passed The last time voters approved an operating levy was in 2008 when a 5.9mill levy was passed. If the 3.95-mill levy is approved by voters this fall, the revenue would provide the district’s 3,800 students continued access to elementary art and the fitness club, intermediate school 6th grade camp, junior high Washington, DC trip, high school musicals, athletics, and marching band, according to Superintendent Hal Gregory. “It will allow Clay High School to remain a comprehensive high school providing local career-technical programming, keeping Clay students at Clay. Career technical programs serve over 50 percent of all junior and senior students and impact nearly 75 percent of all students at Clay,”
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It will allow Clay High School to remain a comprehensive high school...
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Last year, Clay High School freshman Ally Hommel was asked to paint the names of 45 soldiers who died in battle. For her, it became much more than painting names of fallen heroes. The 45 names, who all attended Clay, went next to the Freedom Shrine mural and plaques on the wall across from social studies teacher Chris Klosterman’s room. It took Hommel 18 months, but with the help of art teacher Kristin Wamer, Ally not only painted their names in a color coded serif font, she took the project further. Hommel decided she wanted to know more about these soldiers, so she began researching their lives. She says it changed her “in a positive way.” It wasn’t until 300 people showed up for the Annual Clay Alumni Memorial Concert on May 21 that Klosterman realized how much Hommel’s research affected her. Ally, who just completed her sophomore year at Clay, was a guest speaker. “Ally got up, and I didn’t how much this hit her,” Klosterman said. “I’m standing in the audience out there. I got dead center — I wanted to get some eye contact with her to kind of reassure her, and she got halfway through it and her voice broke and cracked. She gave way, but she got through it, and I would be surprised if there was a dry eye there.” Part of Hommel’s speech went like this, “It was an experience that forever changed me and that I’ll never forget. When I was first asked by Mr. Klosterman to paint the names of Clay’s fallen soldiers outside of his room, I was actually pretty nervous, but curious. “I thought of myself as a pretty artistic person, but had never done anything close to what he was thinking. When I accepted his offer, it was the beginning of a very long and emotional journey.” She continued, “When I started getting more comfortable with the wall, making stencils, and painting the names, it was an awesome feeling. But, there was part of me reaching for a deeper relationship with it. I needed to get to know these men. I needed to see their faces, know who they were and learn what had happened to them. “I got some of the old yearbooks and started searching. I was looking through and I still remember seeing their faces for
said Gregory. “Our community has come to expect and has always supported these activities,” he said. “The outcome of the November levy will determine the future of these activities and programs. Our community leaders understand the critical nature of support for the levy. With community support, the district will continue providing all current activities for students both in and out of the classroom.” The district has reduced spending for many years, having one of the lowest “cost per pupil” in the area, lower than the state average, according to Gregory. The district, he added, has been “hit very hard” by how state taxes are distributed to schools over the years. “We have adjusted accordingly, and now need additional funds to sustain current activities.” Public schools are required by law to have a positive financial balance in its bud-
get at the end of each year. “There are only two options available to address our financial situation: Raise revenue from local levies, or reduce expenditures with personnel reductions,” he said. Without additional revenue, the district will have “difficult decisions” to make, he said, including: • The implementation of a plan to shift Clay High School Career Technical programming and personnel costs to a joint vocational school, which would result in an automatic 3.2-mill un-voted property tax in Oregon/Jerusalem Township going directly to the joint vocational school. • Personnel and busing for programs and activities beyond the standard school day would be reduced, including elementary and intermediate clubs and junior high/ high school musicals, athletics and marching band; • Actual costs of using schools facilities would be charged to outside groups. In addition, if the levy is defeated, the amount of millage needed to sustain current programs dramatically increases, potentially doubling next May, said Gregory. The district continues to lose money due to a reduction in property taxes and the state government phasing out tangible personal property taxes for businesses, which created budgetary shortfalls for Oregon and many other school districts in Ohio.
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