The U.S. Department of Education is recalling millions of promised federal dollars from 18 Ohio school districts, including $5.6 million from Middletown City Schools.
Take a look into JD Vance’s hometown, Middletown, Ohio
Former President Donald Trump announced that JD Vance would join him as his running mate. Take a look at Vance’s hometown of Middletown, Ohio.
(Editor’s note: This column has been modified for clarity.)
The U.S. Department of Education is recalling millions of promised federal dollars from 18 Ohio school districts, including $5.6 million from Middletown City Schools. I wonder if Vice President J.D. Vance will step up and save the day for his hometown school district, considering that 62% of Middletown voters cast their ballots for him and Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
It remains to be seen if Vance is as committed to Middletown. As a Middletown native, count me among the skeptics.
Unlike so many of my Middletown brethren, I never fully bought into Vance. I didn’t like the way he portrayed Middletown in his best-selling book “Hillbilly Elegy,” and many other proud residents didn’t either.
I saw Vance using Middletown’s sense of community pride to further his goals. That’s the thing about my hometown; the people there are very proud of their own. Middletonians who achieve great success are celebrated, revered, and, most of all, strongly supported and promoted.
So, I wasn’t surprised when Middletown went all out backing the Trump-Vance ticket. I won’t say politics wasn’t the main decider, but Middie pride was a big factor in how people there voted, too. Heck, the city put up road signs honoring Vance just a couple of weeks after he was sworn in as vice president. Middletonians stand up for each other that way.
Now, Vance has the chance to do the same − a chance to show that I’m wrong about him. At least on this one thing. Deliver for all those Middletonians who believed in you enough to give you their votes. Who believed that you could help fix the town’s “bad rap.” Who believed that not only could you and Trump “Make America Great Again,” but that, together, you might also help bring about the resurgence of a once All-American City.
Make sure Middletown schools — the district you attended — get to keep that $5.6 million, Mr. Vice President. Pull whatever levers you need to; talk to Trump directly if you have to. Selecting Middletown High School’s marching band to perform at the Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. was nice for those students, but securing nearly $6 million for a new transportation center would benefit Middletown students districtwide. The community is counting on that money, and it is counting on you.
You’ve certainly profited from our hometown. Now it’s time to return the favor.
Opinion and Engagement Editor Kevin S. Aldridge can be reached at kaldridge@enquirer.com. On X: @kevaldrid.