Bowling Green leaders ask voters to back May 6 school levy; new high school groundbreaking set for May 1

Mayor Mike Aspacher, Bowling Green City Schools Superintendent Ted Hazleman and Bowling Green State University President Rodney Rogers used the State of the City address to urge voters to support an operating school levy on May 6 and highlighted progress on the new high school that will be built on Poe Road.

The levy is intended to maintain current school operations rather than expand programs, Superintendent Ted Hazleman said. "This levy isn't about expanding programs. It's about maintaining the high quality educational opportunity and experiences our students already receive," Hazleman said. He warned that if the levy fails the district would face "significant reductions that would directly impact our students and their educational experience." The superintendent said the new high school project has begun site work, the geothermal system is already being installed and the formal groundbreaking is scheduled for May 1.

The mayor and university president framed the levy as a community issue tied to economic development, housing and quality of life. "When Bowling Green residents turn out to vote, they support our schools," Mayor Mike Aspacher said, citing the November 2023 bond vote in which he said "nearly 44% of eligible voters requested a ballot" and "59% voted to support the levy." Dr. Rodney Rogers said he will vote for the levy and emphasized the role of strong K–12 schools in supporting higher education and regional workforce needs.

Speakers described a range of school–community partnerships tied to the levy and the broader educational mission: Bowling Green City Schools reported that 26 BGSU student teachers are working in district classrooms this spring, staff completed 85 credit hours across 32 BGSU courses last year, and district students completed more than 1,200 college credit hours through the College Credit Plus program. The district also recently delivered a revived printed newsletter to approximately 17,000 households to reach residents who do not engage digitally.

Hazleman framed the levy as funding core day-to-day operations such as bus fuel, classroom supplies, facility maintenance, personnel, textbooks, technology, transportation and utilities. He said the levy request is needed because "funding has not kept up with the rising cost" and that an operating levy increase had not been sought since February 2010.

The speakers also tied school investment to broader community benefits. Hazleman said modern facilities and stable district finances support economic development, increase property values and help attract families and businesses. Rogers and Aspacher both described the university–district partnership as mutual: student teachers, joint programs and shared facilities create workforce and civic benefits for the city and campus.

No formal vote or action on the levy occurred at the address; the speakers asked residents to turn out on the May 6 ballot. The mayor and superintendent said the district has planned communications and community outreach about the levy and the new high school project.