Election season has already arrived at Kent. There are a few official issues on the ballot this year. However there is one issue, issue 2, that has received more publicity than any other. As debated last month in “Two sides, one story,” the issue started as Senate Bill 5, and now has voters for it and against it. There is an official argument for each side.

“Issue 2 keeps the best teachers in the classroom by ending the unfair practice of seniority-based layoffs... returns control of our schools to taxpayers... returns balance and ensure fairness... gets spending under control, retain jobs, and protects taxpayers. A YES vote on Issue 2 will make long overdue reforms to unfair and costly government practices in Ohio. Your YES vote on Issue 2 will protect good teachers and improve our schools,” stated in the Official Argument for Issue 2 prepared by Representatives Joe Uecker and Louis Blessing and Senators Kevin Bacon and Shannon Jones.

“Issue 2 [is] unsafe, unfair and hurts Ohio’s middle class families. Issue 2 puts all our families’ safety at risk—making it harder for emergency responders, police, and firefighters to negotiate for critical safety equipment and training that protects us all. Issue 2 will make our nursing shortage worse. It makes it illegal for nurses, hospital and clinic workers to demand reasonable safe staffing levels—so nurses will juggle more patients while their salaries and benefits are cut. Instead of creating jobs to fix our economy, politicians like Governor Kasich gave away hundreds of millions in corporate tax breaks—draining our state budget while Ohio continues to lose jobs—and passed flawed laws like SB 5 to pay back their campaign donors. Issue 2: Another example of the politicians turning their backs on Ohio’s middle class,” stated in the Official Argument against Issue 2 prepared by Michael S. Weinman, Deirdre Ann DeLong, Michael Harrison, and Natalie Y. Wester

Another point of view comes from former RHS student Teacher Mr. Casey.
“The ability that teachers have in this school right now will ultimately be hindered by Issue 2, no matter what happens. The problem with this is what we call a precedent, meaning that as this is active something else could easily happen. Well you know [this] is active and everyone else is still here so why don’t we do this. It is hurting programs. At the end of the day this is about collective bargaining. I think that anyone who does a good job everyday should be respected for what they do and I do not think Senate Bill 5 does that.”

Many students will be able to vote in this election. Their votes could be the key factor toward the future.