Superintendent’s Column – Late May 2025 – Casey G. Wright
As I write this, it’s May 3—three days before our community votes on the school levy. By the time you’re reading this, the results will be known. But the reason I’m writing now, before the outcome, is because what I want to say doesn’t depend on how the vote turns out.
In my 18 years here in Nordonia—first as high school principal and now as superintendent—I’ve talked with thousands of residents. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know people well beyond yard signs or ballot boxes. And here’s what I know for sure: Nordonia is full of people who care deeply about this place and its kids.
That’s why one of the biggest mistakes we make after a levy vote is assuming motives based on how someone voted. I’ve heard the labels: “If you voted no, you must not care about the schools.” Or, “If you voted yes, you must not care about taxes.” That kind of thinking isn’t just wrong—it’s harmful. Because it shuts down the kind of honest conversations we need more of, not less.
People vote the way they do for many reasons. Some are worried about rising costs. Some are frustrated with the system. Some simply have a different vision. A “no” vote doesn’t mean someone is against kids, and a “yes” vote doesn’t mean someone isn’t financially stretched. Life is more complicated than that, and so is community.
What I hope we remember, regardless of the outcome—is that we are still neighbors. We’ll still sit next to each other at baseball games, show up to choir concerts, and wait in the same carpool lines. We still share a commitment to this district, even if we sometimes differ on how to support it.
I won’t pretend that levies aren’t emotional. They are. They’re also hard. But I believe what defines a community isn’t how we vote—it’s how we treat each other after.
No matter the result, our work goes on. We will keep showing up for students. We will keep being transparent about our decisions. And we will keep listening—to every voice, not just the ones that agree with us.
So, thank you. Thank you for voting. Thank you for caring. And thank you for continuing to be part of a community that, while not perfect, keeps trying to do right by its kids.
Casey G. Wright
Superintendent
Nordonia Hills City Schools
Phone: (330) 467-0580
