The school levy vote has been heavy on my heart. Only about a third of our registered voters participated, and the levy didn’t pass. I know many people are frustrated, and I understand why, but I also think we need to pause before shaming our community.
I’ve lived and worked in Hardy County my whole life. I’ve spent this school year inside our schools, seeing firsthand how much our students rely on the services the levy supported. I voted for the levy because I know what our kids stand to lose, and I was disappointed because so many students depend on the support services it funds.
I also wasn’t shocked by the outcome. Families are under real financial pressure right now, and we need to acknowledge that reality with compassion. Gas is $4.50 a gallon. Groceries are higher than ever. Our median household income is well below the national average. Many families are doing everything they can to stay afloat. Asking them to take on more taxes, even for something as important as education, is not a simple decision.
While many are upset about how money has been handled in the past—salaries, COVID funds, bond funds—we also didn’t elect new board members who would be responsible for making different decisions. That tells me this isn’t just about the levy; it’s about trust, transparency, and the realities of rural life. People make decisions based on what they can afford and what they trust. If we want future support, rebuilding that trust has to be part of the conversation. Many in our community want to support students, but they also want confidence that taxpayer dollars are being managed responsibly and transparently. Those concerns didn’t appear overnight. Moving forward, the school system has an opportunity to communicate clearly and demonstrate that every dollar is used as effectively as possible, even when tough decisions are required to keep spending focused on direct student services. Shaming voters won’t move us forward. Listening will. Understanding will. Honest conversations will.
I also want to be clear about something I’ve heard a lot since election day: the levy was NOT about teachers getting raises. Do our teachers deserve more money for everything they do? Absolutely. I’ve seen firsthand how hard they work, how they support each other, and how they make things happen with limited resources. They go above and beyond every single day. But teachers in Hardy County do make a decent living for where we live. Could they drive across a state line and make more? Yes. And if someone chooses that path, I don’t judge them. Everyone has to do what’s best for their family.
I’ve lived here and made a lot more money before. It didn’t make me happier. It didn’t change my work ethic. And I’ve also lived through a national company shutting down operations in WV and had to take a job that paid $40,000 less than what I was making. I readjusted. I realigned my life. I made it work. And I learned that money isn’t happiness, and it doesn’t determine whether you show up for people.
Every organization, especially in difficult economic times, must carefully evaluate its priorities. When families are tightening their budgets, the school system should also be willing to examine where resources are going and ensure that student‑facing services remain the priority. I hope that this moment becomes the start of a more honest and productive conversation in Hardy County. Most people, regardless of how they voted, care deeply about kids. The challenge now is to find solutions that support students while also respecting the financial realities many families face.
So we have to ask ourselves honestly: is this conversation about students, or is it about money? I know my answer.
We can support our students AND acknowledge the financial strain our families are under. We can advocate for essential positions like social workers, interventionists, and support staff without blaming the very people who are trying to survive in a tough economy. We can ask for fiscal responsibility from leadership without attacking individuals. We can want better for our kids while also understanding why some families felt they couldn’t vote yes.
Our students deserve the best we can give them, and that includes a community that works together, even when we disagree, to find solutions that honor both the needs of our kids and the realities our families face every day. Supporting students and expecting fiscal responsibility are not opposing ideas; our community deserves both.
Sincerely,
Lesley Welton See
Old Fields, WV
