Supporters Rally for School Levy

A crowd of 200 to 300 parents, students and community leaders gathered on the Tuesday afternoon to rally support for , the Strongsville School District's 6-mill renewal levy.

PTA Council President Karen Rebholz, who organized the rally, said the parents in the crowd counted on the taxpayers to fund their education when they were in school.

"We had our K through 12, and it was wonderful," she said. "The kids in our schools are counting on us to do the right thing for them, for their K through 12."

Mayor Tom Perciak said companies interested in locating in Strongsville will not move here without good safety forces and good schools.

He said supporting the district is important for three main reasons: For the children, for jobs and to maintain property values.

"We all have a vested interest in this," Perciak said.

Superintendent Jeff Lampert said the quality of education doesn't only affect families with kids in the schools.

"It's all about quality of life in this wonderful community," he said.

also urged the crowd not to be complacent about getting the levy passed Nov. 8 just because it is a renewal.

"We do have an uphill battle," he said. 

Issue 15 would replace an existing 6-mill levy due to expire at the end of 2012. It would run for a continuing period of time. 

The issue would not raise taxes. It generates about $7.5 million a year for the district, which represents about 10 percent of the schools' operating budget.