Greenbrier County Schools is once again putting the school excess levy to a vote this Nov. 8.
According to Greenbrier County Schools superintendent Jeffrey Bryant, the school excess levy is a tax placed on property to directly fund education programs and services critical to the operation of the county school system.
“What (the excess levy) essentially means is funding above and beyond what the legislature allocates,” said Bryant.
Bryant stated that the state legislature uses what is called the school aid formula to provide funding to each county. The formula is based on the number of enrolled students.
Unfortunately, said Bryant, it’s simply not enough.
“That’s the reason that the levy has been in existence since 1974,” he said. “As much as we do appreciate it, it’s not nearly enough money to fund the system for all the things that we want for children.
“For example, Greenbrier County is the second largest school district in West Virginia geographically; we have all these children distributed over a large mass of land, and we have to bus them. Therefore, we have approximately 70 buses. But the school at a formula only will give us enough funds to pay for approximately 33 of those drivers.”
Additionally, levy funds can be used for school safety and security; instructional materials and supplies; art and music programs; school allotments and supplies including lab supplies; capital improvements, repair, maintenance, and utilities; and personnel and employee benefits.
The school excess levy on the ballot this November includes a 10% increase to provide for school safety measures including placing law enforcement personnel in all Greenbrier County elementary schools and at the county’s alternative learning center.
“We’ve seen an immediate, positive response from the schools and from the teachers” since the placing of the officers in the elementary schools this fall, Bryant said.
“It’s allowed not only the presence of a law enforcement officer for safety, but also an opportunity for police officers to interact with students, and the students see them as a helpful resource,” he said.
Most importantly, “they’re providing a layer of protection that we’ve never had before” in the elementary schools and at the alternative learning center, Bryant said.
“The levy fund is about safety and security, but it’s also about learning and providing our students with the very best technology and the very best learning resources,” said Bryant. “We’re preparing and teaching and molding the labor force of tomorrow.
“Even though you might not have children, or you are a senior citizen, or you’re retired, our students are going to be providing you services in the future, whether it be in hospitality or all aspects of the medical community. If we don’t have an educated student base, we won’t have the people who can adequately take care of everyone for the future.
“The quality of life in Greenbrier County is very high, and I think that’s why people like to live here,” Bryant continued, “And we can maintain that. A well-educated population is going to make a life one that that’s pleasing to everyone.”
Bryant said that while the school excess levy has been approved by Greenbrier County voters since 1974, he doesn’t take its passage for granted.
There would be consequences to the levy not passing, he said.
“If the levy was not successful, we would have to make some real decisive decisions. We wouldn’t just be rearranging the deck chairs, some of them would have to disappear,” Bryant said.
One particular line item that would take a hit would be teacher salaries and benefits.
“The levy provides benefits for our employees, and it provides them with a supplemental salary. We’re competing with bordering counties and bordering states. People can go to Allegheny or Covington and make better salaries,” said Bryant, and the county uses Levy funds to offer better benefits such as optical and dental as a way to keep teachers in Greenbrier County.
“I ask the citizens, please, we have a great teaching force and great service personnel. Let’s keep the employees we have, because they’re very valuable,” he said.
Greenbrier County Schools are holding upcoming two informational forums on the school levy: the first forum will be held on Monday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Western Greenbrier Middle School.
The second forum will be held on Monday, Sept. 26, at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School.
The public is encouraged to attend.
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