Levy Results Ease Many Athletes Fears
Germantown, OH (August 12, 2004) Last Tuesday, Germantown and Farmersville residents took the short trip to area polls. There was a fear amongst the parents of Valley View high school athletes' that they were going to pay a high fee for their kids to participate in any sport or club at the middle school and high school levels.
Because Valley View is known for their outstanding academics and athletics, the importance of the levy passing was heightened once residents became aware of some of the effects of its failure. Obviously academics are the most important thing to the school and residents of the Valley View school district, but athletics follow close behind.
The Germantown and Farmersville communities have built tremendous academic and athletic standards well before Farmersville and Germantown schools combined back in 1969. It's apparent by the numbers that showed up at the polls that these communities are determined to keep raising the bar to meet those standards.
Debbie Wellbaum feels that because of the levy's outcome the standards of Valley View will continue on the route they were following before cuts in state education dropped.
"The levy passing created a collective sigh of relief. At the end of the school year there was a lot of tension but I think there was a lot of confidence in the community," Wellbaum said.
"I had a lot of confidence in the community. I wasn't raised in Germantown, but one reason why I really love this community is because it's really supportive and because of that I felt it would pass. Everyone is really involved in the school," Wellbaum noted.
That fear, regarding pay-to-participate, that spread through the community was especially felt by the kids at Valley View, parents, grandparents and other family members. Although there will still be a pay-to-participate fee for athletics and clubs, that amount, 50 dollars per sport with a 100 dollar cap, is significantly lower.
"It brought a positive feeling into the community (when the levy passed) knowing that the pay-to-play would be a lot lower. It was definitely a relief for me and I only have one daughter in high school, but those who have two, three or four kids were going to be a lot worse off than me," Mariann Blosser-Grauman, mother of Karlee Blosser, said.
"It's better just to pay the taxes," Blosser added.
Karlee Blosser participated in soccer and track last year and suffered an injury in the pole-vaulting event during the state track meet. Her family is concerned with her recovery and now has one less thing to worry about with the passing of the levy last Tuesday.
"She's a junior and is hoping to be back this spring for pole-vaulting. She has it marked on her calendar, 140 days, and that's her goal in her mind," Blosser-Grauman mentioned.
If the levy wouldn't have passed each individual athlete would have had to pay $200 for each individual sport with no individual or family limit on those fees.
Area families with more than one child participating in the district would've felt the financial strain a lot more if the levy had failed. Kurt Staiger has three children, two that graduated this year (Stephanie and Samantha Staiger) and can relate to other area parents having to pay for several of their children who participate in athletics.
"I was on vacation and had an absentee ballot, but I haven't had time, yet, to sense the effect on the community. I have two girls and one boy (Karl Staiger) who each participate or participated in swimming and soccer and with Karl it will help quite a bit because he's in two sports," Staiger noted.
Wellbaum was also relieved with the levy passing, as she would've had to pay $600 dollars for her children to participate in athletics.
"Andy is in football, wrestling and baseball and it will be a great help," Wellbaum mentioned.
Without the levy passing many athletes may have had to pick their favorite sport or sports and only play one or two, but now all the kids should be able to participate in all the sports they desire.
"We were going to pay for two sports, football and wrestling, and we have a son in middle school, so it would've cost us $600," Wellbaum added.
The current fees, along with the money the school receives through taxes, will go to coaches' salaries and transportation, but some coaches had to be cut as well. The positions cut were a varsity/junior varsity football coach, a middle school football coach, a golf coach, a swimming coach, a part-time girl's soccer coach and a part-time boy's soccer coach.
The pay-to-participate fees will be attached to the students' fees and they will have to be paid before the student can graduate.
The Spartans' fall season sports are coming on strong and now that the levy has passed each athlete and parent will be able to concentrate on what really matters, having fun in a healthy and competitive environment.
Good luck Spartan fall sports teams!
