Editorial Commentary
I support our schools. I want Vermilion students to thrive in safe buildings with the resources they need. But I also believe in fairness, transparency, and integrity—and those principles shouldn’t be optional when it comes to earning the public’s trust.
That’s why this current school levy campaign is so hard to reconcile.
The decision to hold a $47 million levy vote in May—a time historically known for low voter turnout—was a strategic one. Whether legal or not, it gives the appearance of trying to win with less public input. Why not present such a major request during a high-turnout election in November?
Then there’s the campaign posts. Children are being featured in social media posts and images holding signs. Even if a private committee, not the school district, is behind it, it still blurs the line. We tell our students to lead with integrity. Shouldn’t the adults be doing the same?
It’s also important to point out that the district has already received a significant increase in property tax revenue due to rising home values. That’s not speculation—a local group even took out a half-page ad in the Vermilion Photo Journal to document it. Voters have a right to ask: where’s that money going? Why wasn’t it part of the public conversation?
Lastly, some community members say they’ve been blocked or removed from online discussions for simply raising concerns. That doesn’t build trust. That builds resentment.
You can believe in Vermilion’s schools and still believe in doing things the right way. That includes openness, accountability, and respect for public input.
This bond may be needed—but if the process doesn’t feel fair, people won’t trust the outcome. And if trust breaks down, everyone loses—especially our kids.
And here’s something else to consider: if you take shortcuts, blur ethical lines, and still lose—what then? You’ve not just failed this levy. You’ve eroded trust that may be impossible to win back in November, when the district says it will try again. The damage done now could make future support even harder to secure.
So when you cast your vote, do what your conscience tells you. Support the future you believe in. But also remember how this proposal was brought to you—through a process that left many feeling sidelined, rushed, and unheard. The method matters just as much as the mission. Let’s make sure the way we get there reflects the values we want to teach.
