Cleveland school levy: Tale of two neighborhoods

7:03 PM, Sep 20, 2012   |    comments
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Good schools make a community more attractive to families and even companies.

Supporters of the Cleveland School Levy argue they need to pass the tax increase to improve a struggling system.

George Gogol has lived next to Louisa May Alcott School for 35 years.

"Everybody in the neighborhood sends kids here."

Gogol's children went to the K-5 school on Baltic Road too. It's a blue ribbon winner and is rated excellent.

The neighborhood has remained fairly stable, with well kept homes and manicured lawns. The school's reputation attracts students from the east side too.

But there is real disparity in Cleveland. Just five miles away also on the west side is Artemus Ward.

This brand new school was built thanks to Cleveland voters passing a bond issue. But Artemus Ward still struggles. It is under academic watch on the state report card.

The neighborhood around it struggles too.

Levy supporters believe that with more resources they can get schools like Artemus Ward back on track with smaller classes, longer school years and longer school days.

The levy would cost the average homeowner about $230 extra in property taxes a year.

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