Lawrence County’s school superintendents have endorsed a half-mill tax levy that will be in front of voters in just a little more than a week.

All seven school district superintendents, as well as Dr. James Payne, the Lawrence County Board of Education superintendent, signed a resolution earlier this month in support of Collins Career Center and its improvement levy, which is on the March 6 primary ballot.

“I felt very confident the home schools would be in support of the levy,” CCC Superintendent Steve Dodgion said. “We have a great working relationship.”

Dodgion said the levy was critical for CCC. If it does not pass, cuts would have to be made in personnel and programming.

“It would be really devastating for a lot of people,” Dodgion said.

Payne said CCC is a powerful puzzle piece for its students. He taught history at the school for three years just after it opened.

“I personally have seen the lights turn on in students who had tuned out in traditional education,” Payne said. “I’m just 100 percent in favor (of the levy) and know the positive impact (CCC) has on many of the students.”

Payne also noted the vocational school has several satellite programs that come to the students at their home schools. CCC offers the Teacher Academy program, engineering, business management, early childhood care and interactive media.

Dodgion said the number of students taking satellite programs is anywhere from 600 to 700.

Dennis DeCamp, superintendent for the Dawson-Bryant Local School District, said there are about 83 juniors and seniors from the district who travel to the vocational school.

“It is a tremendous advantage for our students,” DeCamp said. “A technical center such as Collins Career Center can give (students) that avenue for what they want to do as far as a technical career. We would be negligent as educational leaders if we didn’t support the levy.”

Rock Hill Superintendent Wes Hairston said there were about 87 students from his district attending CCC.

“Not everyone is going to attend a four-year college,” Hairston said. “(CCC) provides the opportunity to have success and a quality way of life outside of high school.

“We would encourage people not only in our district but countywide to get out and support the levy.”

Ironton City Schools have 63 of its students attending CCC, said Superintendent Dean Nance.

“I feel that the vocational school is a valuable resource for students who choose to go into trades,” Nance said. “I feel the vocational school does an excellent job in preparing the students who choose these tracts or occupations … It’s not possible for public schools to teach all of the programs that are offer by Collins Career Center. Therefore, by collaborating with the other schools in the county, they are able to have enough students to be able to offer the various trades. I feel it’s a valuable partnership for Ironton City Schools.”

Symmey Valley has a total of 32 students attending CCC.

“The administration of the Symmes Valley Local School District is in support of the CCC levy,” said Jeff Saunders, superintendent. “All of the superintendents of Lawrence County have endorsed the levy. It gives our students more options and opportunities that we cannot provide at Symmes Valley High School.”

Fairland Local Schools sends 93 students to the vocation school. South Point Local School District sends 89 and Chesapeake sends 78.

In addition to juniors and seniors, Dodgion said CCC sees about 5,000-6,000 adults per year taking courses.

The half-mill levy would bring in about $300,000 a year for the school to keep in a state mandated set-aside fund to maintain the campus once its $22 million renovation project is complete. Because the state is paying 75 percent of the project, the district has to set aside money for 23 years to make sure the facility that is being renovated is maintained.

The renovation project will upgrade the county’s oldest educational structure, which was built in the 1970s.

The project includes expanding classroom sizes about 150 square feet and adding an additional 11,000 square feet to the building to meet the requirements of the Ohio School Facilities Commission. The project would also modernize the cafeteria and repair a crumbling infrastructure, which includes repairing the sewage plant, heating and air conditioning, electricity and a leaky roof.

For property valued at $50,000, the levy will cost the homeowner $7.88 per year if the levy passes.