Taxpayers Say No to Free Laptops
From the PD
The surprise of election night: Oberlin's defeat at the polls.
The district had asked for $350,000 a year to buy laptops for middle and high school students. The computers were to be part of a larger initiative to increase student achievement, but the tax was defeated 1,094 to 747.
This was only the second time since 1997 that Oberlin voters have turned down a school tax, passing seven ballot issues in that period.
Geoffrey Andrews, Oberlin's superintendent, was philosophical about the defeat.
"The levy was designed to transform learning and teaching," he said. "We took a big step. That is not what levies are usually put on the ballot for.
That's certainly true, raising your property taxes for free laptops are not what levies are usually put on the ballot for.
Bear Claw said,
Wrote on May 10, 2007 @ 4:00 am
Its only the voters money! So what if it is used as a door stop.
Matthew said,
Wrote on May 10, 2007 @ 6:39 am
Yeah- Lets spend tax payer dollars so snot nose kids can talk to their peers and pedophiles on myspace.