What makes a school district so important to the many communities it serves? Perhaps nothing so much as it develops and builds character in the people who go through the district as youth, then eventually return home to become vital parts of the communities in which they work, live and raise their own families.

The East Holmes School District’s 3.82 mil levy for a period of five years to further pay for emergency requirements as needed in the school district will be on the Nov. 8 ballot. It is imperative to see how the district’s educational efforts, and the tax money that is provided to help meet educational needs, plays an important role in the continued success of Holmes County.

This is an installment in a series in The Holmes County Journal and Bargain Hunter, in which people throughout East Holmes School District talk about the important role the district plays in the well-being of the community.

In today’s world, where many parents both work, schedules are quite hectic and the task of teaching character and values to children oftentimes fall prey to simply trying to stay afloat.

Sometimes that task falls on the shoulders of the school district, where staff members are trusted to enhance the family values taught in the home.

For at least one East Holmes family, the knowledge that their children are in capable, caring hands when they are at school is worth more than they could put a price tag on.

Neither Matt Johnson, a branch manager at Palmer Engineering, nor his wife Holley, a ballet instructor and homemaker, grew up in the East Holmes School District.

However, having moved here and now raising their children here, they have grown to appreciate the educational values their children have been blessed with at school.

“Our children receive excellent education from devoted staff members who care about our kids and reinforce the values we teach at home,” said Holley. “The teachers and staff in East Holmes are skilled professionals who are rooted in our communities and are devoted to developing our children’s intellect and character.”

“We benefit directly and tremendously from the quality of East Holmes schools,” agreed Matt. “By ensuring that the district is adequately funded, we protect our children’s futures and our property values, and we maintain the convenience and security of having small elementary schools in all of our communities.”

Dave and Marilyn Yoder attended Mt. Hope Elementary and Chestnut Ridge Elementary growing up, and now, as business owners in the community, they understand and value the way the school district has remained steeped in teaching and promoting high character and morals to its students.

“Both of us went to school in East Holmes, and the morals and principles are pretty much the same now as they were back then,” said Marilyn.

What are their alternatives? They said that in order to obtain the same fundamentally sound teaching with the kind of character-building their children receive, they would have to either home-school or go to a parochial school, and either option would be much greater than simply supporting the East Holmes levy and allowing the district staff to continue to shape and mold their children in harmony with the family values they provide to their kids.

“Those other options are good, but in our opinion they would be both expensive and less effective than the education our children are getting,” said Dave. “We believe that supporting the levy is a small sacrifice for the well-being of our scholars.”

“We realize times are tough, but what better way could we invest our money than in our children and their future?”

James Gertz has been around Holmes County far longer than the Johnsons and Yoders, having lived in East Holmes for four decades.

A former East Holmes school board member for eight years, Gertz has seen how the school operates, and his own children have graduated and become successful as adults.

Gertz said that anyone would be hard-pressed to find a school system which has provided such all-around excellence academically and athletically, as well as offering family support while promoting moral values and a solid work ethic.

He also firmly believes that the district has an added responsibility in teaching both the English and Amish students of the district, and he believes that the district has done an incredible job at meeting all of the students’ needs.

“I am proud of the accommodations that East Holmes provides for our students,” said Gertz. “In particular, the special seventh and eighth grade and adult programs for our Amish students, as they provide life and career skills for these students.”

Gertz went on to say that these children will someday be a huge part of the caring community that makes up East Holmes, and he focused on the way Holmes Countians support disaster and relief efforts, and how people are so quick to give and help meet the needs of others, whether close to home or far away.

“Our support of others is unmatched for a community our size, maybe legendary,” said Gertz. “We have demonstrated local support for our own financial issues, whether they be township roads, fire departments, a new gymnasium, ball fields, student scholarships, athletic teams or our neighbors across the street. East Holmes Schools are central to our larger community.

“I will support the East Holmes School levy as a continued investment in our community and our future. What better place to spend our money.”