JOHNSTOWN, Ohio -- As state lawmakers try to come up with some type of financial relief for schools, the only option many of them have other than to make cuts is to ask voters for help.
Wednesday morning, the quiet community of Johnstown was anything but as dozens of students took to the sidewalks to chant and cheer in favor of their schools.
The students are working desperately to convince voters to pass Issue 8, a proposed 9.6-mill emergency levy being sought by Johnstown-Monroe Local Schools Tuesday, May 5.
"It's important to everybody,” says Johnstown High School senior Brenna Hosey.
She says if the levy fails, she can't imagine how students would deal with the elimination of programs such as all sports, French, agriculture education and even the marching band.
Not to mention five teachers’ jobs.
“I was in the marching band for a couple of years. I run cross country. I play basketball. I'm on the softball team," Hosey says.
“It would be a shame to lose all this stuff,” says junior Brad Coutes. He plays both lacrosse and football.
“That would just destroy a lot of the plans I have for life and stuff like that," he says.
If passed, the levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home another $294 dollars per year in property taxes.
Johnstown resident Joe Giannini has already made up his mind on where he stands on the issue.
“I think we outta give the kids the same kind of chance we hand when we were in school,” he says. “I already voted absentee. As far as I’m concerned, we're winning one to nothing."
Meanwhile residents such as Karen Gray don’t know how they’ll vote.
“I’m undecided right now,” she says. “With today's economy like it is, it is just kind of hard on some people."
One thing is for sure, these students hope honks from car horns at the rally translate to “yes” votes come Election Day.
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