SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, OH (Toledo News Now) - Springfield Local Schools made one final push Wednesday night at the Glass City Volleyball Arena to make sure voters say 'yes' to their emergency 5.9 mill, five year levy.
School leader say it is important that voters know the impacts the levy will have on the community whether it passes or fails.
"It's critical that everyone votes, but it's more important that they vote well informed," said Superintendent Dr. Michael O'Shea.
He was just one of the many school and city leaders at the public forum there to answer questions about the levy.
Wednesday night's forum was designed to inform the public on the harsh realities of what a failure of this levy would really mean.
"Devastating consequences, I cant overstate this," said O'Shea.
If the levy does not pass the district will be forced to make drastic cuts to everything from sports and extracurricular activities to ap and honors classes.
"This is a community issue and we need to get behind our public school system. It's critical at this point," said Springfield parent Beth Gilley.
Many at Wednesday night's meeting supported the levy, but others say they just don't have the money for it.
"Every point that was made, made sense. We know where people are coming from and there's these polar opposites and we need to find a way to come to the middle," said Gilley.
Supporters say passing the levy would protect property values and the quality of life in Springfield Township.
"My biggest fear is come Wednesday morning the district wakes up to a loss and the community realizes too late the damage that has been done and we won't be able to retrieve it and it will take years if not decades to recover," said O'Shea.
State funding was also brought up several times at the forum. Many say it's something they need to keep pushing for more of regardless.
Springfield Local Schools has laid out what cuts will be made regardless of whether or not the levy passes, and which will be made only if the levy fails. Click here to see that list from the district.
O'Shea encourages people with questions to call him at 419-867-5600.
