City, schools push Issue 19 renewal as district readies construction and summer closures

Council members and a public commenter used the meeting to urge voters to support Issue 19, a renewal levy for Brooklyn City Schools, and to update residents on upcoming school construction and events.

Councilman Matt Mosley, the council’s school board liaison, and other council members reiterated that Issue 19 is a renewal levy and does not create new taxes. Mosley and others said passing the renewal would help the district avoid a reduction below the state’s 20‑mill floor and prevent the district from losing business‑tax revenue that would otherwise help pay for schools. The council encouraged residents to vote; the election was discussed as scheduled for May 6.

The school board reported that construction on the new field turf and scoreboard begins this summer; the track will be closed starting Tuesday, May 27, and is scheduled to reopen Aug. 1. Brooklyn High School commencement was announced for Friday, May 23 at 6 p.m. at the stadium, weather permitting. The last day of school for students is May 30. The district’s final superintendent coffee chat before the election was scheduled for Saturday, May 3 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the board office lobby; residents were directed to contact Superintendent Dr. Claris or Treasurer Robert Shearhart with levy questions.

During the second public session, resident Kelly Kroll urged residents not to rely on social media for details about House Bill 96 and recommended contacting Superintendent Claris or Treasurer Shearhart for accurate information. Kroll said: "House Bill 96 is a budget recommendation from Columbus to include a change to how schools are funded. Although the language sounds promising, it's also been twisted to fit personal narratives within the community; reach out to Dr. Claris with any questions." Kroll also reiterated election logistics and the school calendar items announced in the school board update.

Council members and the mayor also thanked the school board for actions intended to reduce bond costs and noted that some previously scheduled polling locations (the high school gym) were unavailable due to construction; affected precincts were redirected to alternate polling sites and county voter tools were recommended for confirmation.

The council’s statements and resident comment reflect ongoing public outreach by the district before the May 6 vote; no formal council action on the levy was recorded during the meeting.