Beachwood — School levies are often divisive issues, but in Beachwood, something unusual is going on.
An out-of-town opposition group is helping to wage war against the multi-million dollar levy. And it is an ugly battle.
While the levy is actually smaller than those being asked by other suburban school districts near Cleveland, and Beachwood has never failed to pass a levy, this one may be very close, given the ads being run by a mystery group.
"We just don't know why they're interested in us," said Beachwood City Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Hardis.
But why is the trick question Beachwood wants answered as it tries to pass the first bond levy in 7 years, and its first operating levy in 13.
The levy would offset spending cuts from Columbus and help build a new elementary school to replace two existing ones which are 62 years old.
If it doesn't pass, Dr. Hardis tells us, "We will have to implement some cuts to programs and services, because we are required by state of Ohio to always operate in the black."
But a group called the American Policy Coalition out of Montana is running an online ad to defeat the approximately $40 million dollar levy, claiming it will increase class sizes and reduce individualized learning.
"They're engaged in scare tactics. I hope our Beachwood community views it with same skepticism I do," said Dr. Hardis.
The only local connection to the group seems to be Cincinnati-area attorney David Langdon. He’s represented a number of conservative groups which have spent millions on political races across the country.
But on a school levy?
"Someone locally is afraid to put their name out as someone who is for the opposition," says Beachwood resident, Mikhail Alterman.
He’s part of a group called Low Tax Citizens which is against the levy, calling it a fraud.
He believes the district should renovate the existing schools, as building new ones would cost way more than the district is saying. But he says this other opposition group is not helping them.
“It took us off the message. We're talking about some out-of-state Montana thing,” he explained.
And while he would prefer American Policy wasn't this phantom group, their goals are certainly the same.
"For viewers out there who think they're one levy away from educational paradise, it may not be necessarily so," Alterman tells us.
Superintendent Hardis tells me the money for this levy also will be used to help private schools with transportation. If it fails, they say they will bring it to vote again in the November elections.