Jordan Wade, a 2018 Clymer Central School graduate, is setting his sights on a write-in campaign for school board.

CLYMER — During times of community division in Clymer, 18-year-old Jordan Wade believes he can help.

Sitting in a Clymer Central School classroom in 2017, Wade watched as the ongoing merger study with a neighboring school district, at the time, divided the community and even the students that surrounded him.

“If I’m going to be honest, it was hell,” Wade told The Post-Journal. “You had people in the school in the classes worried if they’re going to go to Clymer next year.”

Wade, a 2018 Clymer Central School graduate, has now decided he’s going to challenge the sole board-member position up for a vote this year with a write-in campaign.

The “last-minute” campaign will not see Wade’s name appear on the ballot as he missed the petition deadline. However, his campaign will be based on write-in votes.

But with letters, posters and signs with his name on them, Wade is prepared to bring a young perspective to the ranks of the school board. And he’s serious.

After watching the division of the school district grow following the failed merger, last year’s failed budget and the upcoming 2019-20 school budget vote, he thought it was time to act.

“I love this community,” Wade said.

Comprised of the town of French Creek, the town of Mina and the town of Clymer, the community he loves is at odds with itself, from his perspective.

Social media is where he finds most of the back and forths surfacing. For him, the conversations are not productive and are generally unhealthy.

“All it’s doing is dividing the district,” he said of the arguments online and face-to-face.

During the district’s merger study with the Panama Central School District, he said the divide was observable during sporting events among parents. Those with differing views on a potential merger often elected to sit in different sections, Wade said.

The merger was disapproved by the community. In Panama, however, it was approved.

When it came time to vote on the proposed $13,876,301 2018-19 school budget, the turnout was much less. The initial proposed budget featuring a 13 percent tax levy increase was voted down. While having a majority in favor, the tax levy increase above the tax cap required a 60 percent supermajority approval for the budget to pass.

The disapproval created more division in Wade’s eyes.

Upon revote, a newly-proposed budget within the tax cap passed.

Additionally, Wade said groups lied on both sides regarding last year’s budget and the upcoming one.

“We need to be together as a community other than divided,” he said.

Despite being nudged by some residents within the district to run, who he said are weary of the upcoming board-approved budget, Wade said he supports it.

Carrying another proposed 13 percent tax levy increase, the 2019-20 school budget totals $11,495,924, a decrease from the enacted 2018-19 budget.

The tax levy totals $4,853,194, a $569,362 increase from the previous year. Superintendent Ed Bailey said the increase will equate to a $1.82 increase on the tax rate, a percentage not decided by the school district. While refraining from commenting on the board member election, he said he couldn’t remember a time that an 18-year-old sat on the board let alone ran for a position.

Wade admitted that while he wants to effect change within the district, the board has done a better job at communicating the budget compared to last year – specifically the 13 percent increase.

“It wasn’t explained last year,” he said.

However, while he acknowledged the board’s course correction he still wants to shake up the current status quo.

“I believe there needs to be a young voice that just graduated to connect with kids and teachers,” he said.

Touting his cordial relationships with his former teachers he said, “Teachers need more of a voice now more than ever.”