Students say they are the ones paying the price for nixing of levy

ATWATER - While sitting around a table in the lunchroom for a quick breakfast before classes started Thursday, a group of high school juniors said they were disappointed that additional funding for their school was once again voted down.

On Tuesday, voters in the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School District defeated an operating levy by a 23-vote margin. It was the fourth time in three years that a levy has been turned back by voters.

In response to past levy failures, the district has made $1 million in budget cuts.

The students said they are the ones who have felt the burn.

"I think they should really reconsider how they're voting because it affects us more than they think," said Brooks Maurer, a junior from Atwater.

"People aren't as well-informed about what has been cut and how much it affects students," Maurer said.

"It's not good," said Micah Larson, an 11th-grader from Atwater, who said it appears voters are "more concerned about their own money than our education."

This week's action by voters, he said, was "selfish."

Ever since budget cuts were implemented at ACGC, students have fewer classes from which to choose. And because some advance courses are now offered only every other year, it's difficult to fit all the classes into a student's schedule.

Maurer said he wanted to take advanced biology this year, but because of cutbacks he will have to wait until next year to take it. "You can't really take the classes you want to take," said Maurer, adding that he was "very disappointed" the levy failed.

"It's kind of sad," said Bethany Nelson, the junior class president. "There won't be as many classes -- again."

"We need the revenue very badly," said Duane James Bennett, a junior from Cosmos. He's afraid that the latest defeat will mean even more classes and programs will be cut.

The cutbacks have meant that Kasey Nelson, an 11th-grader from Grove City, didn't have a fall sport in which to participate. She had been a cross-country runner, but this year the sport was eliminated in a cost-saving measure. "Now I have nothing," she said.

Larson said he hopes a levy is eventually passed "so we can get some of the electives back."

When a levy is put before voters again, Kasey Nelson said she hopes people "vote yes and think about our education."

Despite the disappointment with the past cuts and the defeat of the levy, all of the students had high praise for their teachers and said they have not considered going to school elsewhere.

"The good teachers and the good education we get here make it worth staying," Bennett said.

Sherri Broderius, junior/senior high school principal, said students are "truly concerned" about the school that "they love." She challenged people who voted against the levy to come to the school and "look the students in the eye."