'The community really showed up'

McCOMB — McComb School supporters were elated on Wednesday morning following the passage of a levy to replace the 103-year-old school building. "It's a really hopeful time for McComb," said Laura Drewes, a member of the levy committee. Unofficial Hancock County election results Tuesday night showed 790 votes for the bond issue and 526 votes against. In Wood County, there were 120 votes for the levy and 128 against. The issue also appeared on the ballot in a small portion of Putnam County, but received no votes for or against. The total vote was 910 votes for and 654 votes against. Drewes said the committee worked hard and "didn't leave any stones unturned." "We really wanted to focus on educating the community so that people could make an informed decision," she said. "And I felt like the community really showed up and they felt confident in casting their votes." Drewes ran the Building for McComb's Future social media account highlighting the levy campaign's message. Throughout the fall the account posted messages of support from community members sharing why they supported the levy. Drewes said she had asked for the first few, but very quickly started receiving these messages of support unsolicited. "We didn't even get to post all of them," she said. Tuesday night, the account posted a message of thanks that stated in part, "We couldn't be more proud to be Panthers!" The McComb Elementary School Facebook page posted a video Wednesday morning of the students in the school gym, yelling "Thank you!" "I am so deeply grateful for the residents of our four townships and villages of Hoytville and McComb," said Superintendent Jeremy Herr. "Just seeing the support of the community – it was a special thing to see." He said previous district administrators, the school board, the levy committee and "countless volunteers" had all helped the levy succeed. Sara Klay, another member of the levy committee, said the committee worked hard at getting the message out throughout the community. "Everybody brought a different strength to the table and we all worked really well together," she said. Recognizing that not everyone uses social media, the committee tried a variety of methods to reach people including flyers and going door to door. The door-to-door campaigns included children. "They just kept telling people, 'Vote yes!'" Klay said, adding that even the people who answered their doors and said they planned to vote no "were still respectful." Many community members also shared that they planned to support the levy. Klay even heard from people who registered to vote for the first time this fall so they could vote for the levy. She said she had been nervous that concerns about affordability might lead people to vote no when asked whether to tax themselves. But, she said, strengthening the school is key to the village's economic development. "It is a really uncertain time when it comes to our current economic status," Drewes said. "So I think that makes this vote even more powerful. Because people are saying, hey, I'm willing to make sacrifices in other areas of my life so that we can invest in our school, in our town." Herr held a watch party at his home Tuesday night. He said that, when the levy supporters gathered there did the math and realized the levy had passed, "I'm sure they heard us a few houses away. It was a pretty cool moment. A lot of young families are on that levy team, and honestly this has always been more than just bricks and mortar. The vote has been for the kids." The target is to open the new school in fall 2029. Herr said current elementary and middle school students will get to experience the new school, as will generations after them. He said he did a "victory lap" around the school on Wednesday, high-fiving students and staff. "I walk the halls every day, but it was a different feel today," he said. He acknowledged there is a lot of work involved in making the new school a reality. But on Wednesday, school supporters throughout the village were taking a moment just to celebrate. "I am so, so excited for the parents who have young kids," Herr said. "I know how hard they worked and how much they really wanted this to come to fruition. I'm happy for them and I'm happy for the kids and how much they're going to benefit from it."