The proposed local school levy failed yesterday … again. I have lost track at this point of how many times the levy has failed and, no matter which way a person has voted, I think that everyone has to agree on one thing. As this situation has gone on, it has become extremely divisive in our community. The series of levy defeats has created a situation where both sides have worked to vilify the other. Those in favor of the levy say that the other side is anti-community, anti-future, and even anti-kids. Those against the levy have painted school administrators and board members as ignoramuses, challenging that they do not know how to manage an organization like a school system and that they simply want more of everyone’s money.

The attempt on both sides has continuously been to “get the vote out” in support of their opinion.

Continuing to do that, certainly, is one option. But supposedly the levy can only go up one more time before the state will step in and take over control of the local schools. Time is running out. I assume the levy will be on the ballot again in November. School officials felt that the August election would be good for them as students were home from college and hopefully would be a strong “pro-school” voting block. They will not have that in November.

Those against the levy have become more organized and solidified in their efforts over time, making their voting block stronger as well.

I know it would be a tough pill to swallow but, at this point (or even earlier), if I were a school administrator or on the school board, I’d want to pursue some other options. At some point, the reality would need to sink in and be recognized that the majority of the voting public simply wasn’t going my way … and that maybe I need to change my tack a bit.

I suppose that could look like a number of different things but one would be to begin a series of small group meetings with local citizens including civic and business leaders but to especially try to reach out to those who have been voting against the levy and engage them in conversation. Sometimes, I believe, as much as anything, folks just want the assurance that they have been heard and that those who have heard them are listening.

At this point, as the division continues, each side begins to forget that the other side consists of human beings. They begin to see the other side only as the “enemy” … and that creates a situation in which it is very difficult for any positive shifting, one way or the other, to occur.

A series of many, intensive, small group meetings, facilitated by a neutral third party, could create productive conversation which begins to remove the boxes that each side has put itself in. The individuals can begin to once again see each other as people … and hopefully begin to better understand each other. As this happens, I believe that both sides will begin to see how many they can “give” a little. School officials will perhaps pick up and act on some helpful ideas and those against the levy will know that they have been heard.

I believe that this would begin the healing process that our community desperately needs … and it would bring people closer together and allow the levy to easily pass in November.