By Craig Anderson

SMRYNA — Emerging from Smyrna Middle School after casting ballots on the district's referendum, several voters left no doubt where they stood on the referendum, both pro can con.

Lisa Johannsen took her lunch break to vote against the proposals, while husband Ron got time off work to do the same. According to Ms. Johannsen, she voted to express her unhappiness with the district and its response to COVID-19.

The Johannsens said they are considering pulling their three children from the school district due to its response to the pandemic.

“I feel like they brought this out now thinking that the schools are too small and that’s why kids can’t go back to school but other districts didn’t make their schools any larger so there’s no reason why our kids can’t be in school learning four or five days a week,” Lisa said. “I just don’t think the school district is doing what it needs to do.”

With a fifth-grader at Clayton Intermediate School, Beth Dizel exited the school comfortable with her support of the referendum.

“I feel that everything I voted for the school district really needs,” she said. “They addressed any question that I had about what the money would be used for very clearly so I felt very strongly and very comfortable voting yes.

“They need more space for the students and a new school.”

A Smyrna resident since 2004, Ms. Dizel said she supported a previous referendum as well even though she didn’t have a child in the district at the time.

“I just knew it’s so important that we give our children the best opportunities in order to have a great community so even if it doesn’t directly impact you it really does if you live in town,” she said.

Voters are being asked to support two ballot questions, one which will enable the district to purchase a plot of land to build a new elementary school and make additions to two other schools, the other that will support operational costs.

Polls are open today until 8 p.m. at Smyrna Elementary and Smyrna Middle schools, as well as at Kenton Ruritan Club, at 249 S. Main St. in Kenton. 

As voters cast their ballots, Charles Smith, 74, was concerned about continued rising taxes and decided to not support the referendum after studying up on it.

“I looked at what they had published and I think they’re being less than transparent in the actual effect it could have on taxes,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a real good oversight of the budget, I’m sure there are (other) things that they could do.”

It was “a big deal for me” to get out and vote, Mr. Smith said.

“The older I get the more time I have to consider these things,” he said. “I don’t have children in the school system and I’d like for the kids to have a good education. Somebody paid for mine when I was young but there’s a point where (raising taxes) needs to stop.”

Jan Martin had three grandchildren attend schools in the district and said they received quality educations, but said she could not support the current referendum push. She said she’d discussed potential ramifications of the referendum with her husband and was unhappy with the additional taxes they would create.

While Ms. Martin said, “My personal experience is that when they want something to go through it’s going to go through and my little vote is not going to mean much,” she continued on that “but in my mind I did the right thing.”

In support were Austin and Bette Ann Pace, whose daughter teaches in the district.

“It sounds like they need the money because some of the school buildings are really getting old, they need to be taken care of, updated and renovated, so I think (the district) is trying to get things moving,” Mr. Pace said.

“A new school, I guess, looking at the numbers they’re printing in the paper it looks like we’re certainly to need a new (school).”

According to Ms. Pace, “You can’t complain if you don’t go vote. I read about (the referendum) spoke to my daughter and we discussed it at home, so I’m comfortable with what I did.”