I fought the law and the law won

Alrighty, let's have a little legal 101. First, you cannot declare something to be confidential that is not by law confidential. You see if that were possible, governmental entities would declare everything confidential and the public would never be informed. Second, if you are going to cite bylaws and Ohio Revised Code to someone, make sure that you are not violating any yourself first. The Scolding of Kellie document signers have violated Sunshine Laws as well as ORC. ORC states that there are specific reasons to go into executive session and the consideration of the discipline of a Board member for conduct related to the performance of his/her duties or his/her removal from office shall not be held in executive session. You also cannot have three people (AKA: Quorum) taking action without the knowledge of the public and the full board. My feelings are this. A majority vote is running our district. The following letter I find petty, misleading and some statements are false. I fail to see why this blog is so upsetting to them. If you don't like my opinions there is a simple solution. Don't read this. Spend your time doing what I do. Try to follow the money and look for ways to save (sending tapes to my house isn't one of them) , places to make cuts, program consolidation, freedom for classroom teachers to teach their style not what their told to teach, there are so many better ways to spend time serving the public, than looking for ways to make me miserable. I would also like to drop a line and thank Barb Gunter for not signing the Scolding of Kellie. From what I was told she was left out of the loop until 6:45 PM and held up in a meeting with the Pres until 7:05. Now you know why they rushed in and we started late. Nothing like springing something like this on someone and expecting them to sign it. She stated that she did not agree with the letter, but to hand it to her at the last minute was incomprehensible.

The Letter from the Triumvirate

Put up yer dukes!

I'm going to do something I don't normally do. I'm going to comment on some comments made on other message boards, community forums, newsletters, grapevine, and such. So much is being said that I am being accused of ignoring that I feel I must respond to some of the things I see and hear. Also to set some facts straight. Such as, the busses will still be parked outside and there are additional costs that need to be considered when making a purchase of this magnitude. I take offense to anyone on the board being called a liar or a puppet. Unless you are willing to back up accusations like this they should be reserved for the gossip that goes on at the beauty shop under the hair dryer. It's hard to know the truth about someone when you've never taken the time to talk with them.
I want what is best for taxpayers and kids. Those are the two things that affect our lives. The spend it because you have it attitude has to change unless you want a levy on the ballot every 2 years. I am not a negative person but I will continue to be contrary and ask questions until I see change taking place. The constant threats to parents, grandparents and children need to stop. I want to see the cuts before coming to the property owner for more money. Cuts that have little to no effect on kids. Like less administrators. Like larger class sizes for gym and music. Like using way less paper and way more technology. Like teaching through computers at home rather than shipping kids all over hells half acre. There are kids we spend over $50,000.00 per year on!! Two years of that would buy a house in the Falls. There are many ways to save money if you try. Just like most of us have to constantly look for ways to save money to get by, our governmental agencies should too. By the way, am I the only one that noticed mental is in the word governmental?
From what I am hearing we are sending kids to college behind their peers. They are not taught how to study, how to manage time, what colleges expect, or told what scholarships and early courses are available. Customer service does not seem to be a priority at our schools. Just who got what and who didn't yet. Meanwhile the teachers are stuck in the middle, forced to follow a curriculum that doesn't always mesh with the students readiness, and don't speak up because the politics of it all will make their life miserable. Whew I'm out of breath after that one.
I have Roberts Rules. Purchased it last November. My son Robert freaked out when he saw it! I assured him his rule book is much thinner, but I didn't deny that it existed. The thing is Roberts Rules are only useful if people want to abide by them. And our system works in such a way that it is almost impossible to garner citizen input on issues because there is no first and second reading on most issues. And anything of importance is handled in executive session until the witching hour. You cannot effectively represent the people that voted for you under the current system unless you are a clairvoyant. But, on the other hand, an administration can do virtually anything they want with your money as long as it has a willing board.

Why’s everybody always pickin’ on me?

Wow, wait until you hear this monumental waste of your money. I was lounging around yesterday eating bon bons and giving myself a pedicure when the doorbell rang. Out front was a moving truck and a friendly gentleman stood at my door with some official looking documents in hand. He had a package that I was required to sign for, stating that I had been hand delivered a tape of the March 15th board meeting. I asked whom it was from and he just shrugged and said "I don’t know, they just sent me". Considering my increased paranoia of late this was very disconcerting. I was hoping he was heading back to the truck to bring in a new couch, but he just drove away. I was nervous. Was this really a tape? Why would I need a tape of an event I was a part of? I listened to the entire tape. I suppose the part I was intended to hear was at the very end of side B. I guess it was the part where our CEO mentions that our district can renovate and acquire the new bus garage for under $700,000.00. I must say I hope none of you are ever subjected to having to listen to a tape of a board meeting. Unless you are an insomniac, in which case I highly recommend it.
So I have a tape courtesy of the tax payers I assume. I will use it in the future as punishment for my children. And thanks for having it delivered to me because with the price of gas these days…Oh yeah and I understand why it couldn’t have waited until today when our board reports are hand delivered. OK that was a lie. I don’t understand that one. Anyway, for anyone paying attention, my toenails turned out fine.
I keep hearing about what is ethical and what is not. Is it ethical to spend $1500 per pupil more in one area of our district? Is it ethical to work toward separating certain schools from our district and then running for school board when you realize it can’t happen? Is it ethical to vote on contracts for people your family benefits monetarily from? Is it ethical to close two schools based partially on enrollment figures only to report 6 months later the only numbers under reported were on the two closed schools?
My ethics are right where they should be. I want to see equitable spending throughout our district, I want to see tax payer money spent wisely, not looking for ways to spend all we have. I want to see our buildings used by our students. I do not believe that leasing our buildings community schools and private schools is any way to increase our declining enrollment. Our bussing policies are grossly unfair to our very own students. My ethics lie with the people who pay the bills here and the children that deserve to see our money used on them in the classroom not on administrative costs that continue to rise as enrollment decreases.

Note on email: Due to concerns with Email linking to my Board of Education address, I have changed the Email link to my home Email account.

Who are you? WhoWho.. WhoWho?

I finally feel I can let you in on what your board has been up to. I wanted to give my fellow board members a heads up first. While you thought the board was spending spring break looking for ways to save you money and better educate our children, some were actually preparing a document of which I'm still unsure what to call. Let's call it the Scolding of Kellie. This is a CONFIDENTIAL document according to some of my fellow board members. So to show my fellow board members the respect they deserve, I will only post my reply to them here for now. I have given the board president 1 weeks time to provide clarification as to why his letter to me is to be kept confidential. The way I read the law, considering the Scolding of Kellie document concerns moi, it is only confidential if I deem it to be so. But after reading my reply I think you will have a pretty clear understanding of the intentions of some of my fellow board members. I say some because not everyone signed the Scolding of Kellie. I was not the only person ambushed with this. I will say this once again. This blog serves a purpose whether my detractors see it or not. So much misinformation is spread around it's no wonder people throw their hands in the air and turn their backs. This blog will stay up until someone figures out a way to UN-elect me. Why are so many people afraid of my views and opinions of the school district happenings?

My Attorney's Response

My Personal Response

EDIT: The links are getting a lot of downloads right now. Yahoo has an hourly transfer limit so please try back at the top of the hour. I will work on finding a better place to upload these documents so they can be seen without limits.

EDIT: Links should be working now. Let me know if you have more problems.

Oooops

What a curious thing the Falls News did. The Legislative Lowdown doesn’t mention the most significant purchase our district has made in 40 years. I’m so in shock I don’t know what to say about it. How do you not report this?! Hmm maybe it’s because we didn’t actually buy it! We approved version 18 of 22 contracts it appears. Don’t worry, the board will have a chance to rectify the mistake at this Wednesdays meeting. Now I really understand the need for the vote to be posted here. The blame game has already started. What I want to know is why it took 22 contract rewrites to get it right. I guess that’s what happens when you try to hurry a purchase. I have been told I am politically naïve for thinking Woodridge really wanted to look into a joint venture with us. Silly me believing something our CEO told me.
Also on Wednesdays’ agenda- Contract renewals and some non-renewals, a multitude of policy revisions as well as presentations by our curriculum director on textbooks and our CEO and CFO with a financial update. Oh and a resolution to request the Auditor of the State of Ohio to release our district from fiscal "watch". My feelings on it are we should save everyone the paperwork troubles. I know, I know. How dang negative of me. But without a levy (or some serious cuts) we will be revisiting a deficit situation in 2008. A Falls News letter to the editor suggests we follow the cuts in the recovery plan. I agree. One of the problems is the cuts were cut. People need to understand that some of the money savings promised are not happening. While the recovery plan looks good on paper it has to be completely implemented to make an impact. I saw some familiar names on the last delinquent tax list. I have had many senior citizens in the community tell me they will have to sell their homes if property taxes go up any more. Social Security does not give a $40.00 per month cost of living increase. That is the average amount I’m told most home owners taxes went up. Can you say house for rent? Because that is the trend in the Falls when seniors move out. Some rental company buys it or the sheriff takes it and sells it to HUD. This isn’t your fathers CF.
And one more issue I’d like to touch on. The administrative salary increases. First of all the board approved a new salary schedule which did two things. It gave some raises and it didn’t give some raises. The "responsibility factor" can be adjusted. But more importantly it has generated talk in the community about where our priorities seem to lie. Are some of these people deserving of what they got? Sure. Could we have done better? Yes. But either way contracts with a salary schedule were in place. Our CEO presented the board with a new salary schedule that he said was superior to what was in place and would save our district money. If there is something amiss I am not aware of it.
Our administrators need to focus on being accountable to the stake holders of this district and educating children. The politics involved do nothing to benefit the education of children. The same issues that have devastated major corporations are devastating school districts across the nation. I will admit that I am too new on the board to truly know who is an effective administrator and who is not. I am not in the position to see these people working on a daily basis. I must take recommendations from the districts CEO whom I had no part in hiring and keep my fingers crossed he is doing a good job. Information is provided in a less than timely manner. Yet my last minute questions seem to irritate some. I will continue to be contrary and ask questions until I feel I am getting information in a timely manner. If I am to approve and take responsibility for these decisions, I need to be kept informed.

Isn't recovery for addicts?

Is "Project Recovery" working? Let’s review. A plan - "Project Recovery" - was originally submitted to the community with cuts in programs, staff, and school closings. "Deep cuts" they were called. This original plan also required a new levy as well as a renewal levy. As the levy-begging progressed, concessions by the administration were made to Project Recovery. A new set of promises was made to the community, but never updated to Project Recovery. Now it’s time to pay the piper for forgetting this important part of the equation. Project Recovery can not work if it is not being implemented as originally planned. The community passed both levy’s believing two different sets of rules. Some voted yes because they thought the cuts promised would be made, others voted yes because the cuts were cut. Sorry if that’s confusing but I’m just reporting the facts.
Keep in mind folks, the recovery plan was submitted to the State of Ohio as a stipulation of being in "fiscal watch". I assume the state assumes we are actually following it. But we’re not. Oh sure, we closed a couple schools and laid off some teachers, froze wages for a year and didn’t buy text books. But our sports program and bussing are intact.
Speaking of bussing, several of you have expressed me your frustration with our bussing policies. I’m going to fill you in with some facts. Do with them what you will. First, we must by law bus private school children in our district and charter school children in a 30 minute/30 mile zone. Or buy the parents out. Secondly, open enrolled children must be bussed to our public schools provided they get themselves to a current route stop on time. Yet children enrolled in their own school are not permitted to do this. Even though some busses run half-empty. Lastly, yes we do provide transportation for some children that fall inside our bussing limitations. I was told it is our policy, although I have been unable to find it. I will ask for clarification on this.
And to once again clarify some of the new bus garage issues. The busses will still be parked outside. They can be washed and repaired inside after the $200,000.00 renovations. Several of you have questioned me about the increased costs. We are still waiting to hear what utilities and extras, such as shaving off the corner of Second St. and Vincent will cost. As is concerns me as there appear to be several cracks in the structure. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this is where the new garage doors will go.
I understand our plan for excellence committee is getting ready to discuss our school reorganization. I wonder if equity in per pupil spending will be discussed? One of the reasons I ran for this school board position was because research into building expenditures disturbed me. I hope this is considered when making recommendations affecting our kids. Although I am comforted knowing our districts curriculum director is chairing this committee. I’m banking on his leadership and keeping my fingers crossed. What else can I do?

Whoa Black Betty Wham-O-Lam

I guess I once again need to clarify a few points. This blog is mine and mine alone. No other board members have any say so in what I post. I do not censor or block people from posting. If you write it, it’s posted. Period. Any posts that have been removed, have been removed by the author not me. I appreciate the support I have received in regards to this blog. I appreciate the criticisms as well. As long as people are involved and talking I’m happy. It has become apparent to me that keeping the public informed bothers some people. I have been asked by some to stop blogging. I cannot do that. My neighbor caring for her ailing husband can’t "drag her butt" to the board meetings. Neither can my friend across town with four kids, homework, dinner, baths, oh yeah, and her job. I will, as requested, start posting the vote taken at board meetings. The tally is printed in the paper but the way people voted is not. How are you supposed to know who is doing what?
Now let’s talk some more about the audit. I hope we get our moneys worth from Betty Montgomery's office. We paid for this audit, so I'm hoping we implement some recommendations. The first key recommendation is to update the recovery plan. You see, "Project Recovery" as originally presented is not being implemented. In fact I’m sure the administrative positions added last year and this year were not a part of project recovery. But we’ll cover the project recoveries’ and the impact in a later blog.
The statements I made about Schnee have been criticized. A recommendation in the audit states "Cuyahoga Falls CSD should closely monitor the number of students leaving the District to attend other schools and continue to take action to stabilize potential increases". Teachers have told me that students regularly ask them what they can do to go to Schnee. We are losing money and students to Schnee as well as the private schools we lease our buildings to.
The audit says we could reduce 18 and up to 42 regular education teachers and keep a student to teacher ratio of 22:1. Of course this would affect Advanced Placement and electives first. Something I’d rather not see happen. I’d like to see the administrative positions added in the last two years cut first and consolidate some duties. The public has been screaming for years about have four principals at the high school. It’s time we take a look at this. Our teacher to administrator ratio is 11:1. The audit also recommends reducing 8 full time education service personnel, 4 full time clerical positions, at least 1 vacant cleaner position, and 2 bus drivers. Eliminating language in contracts that forces the district to increase tutor staffing when exceeding class limits is also recommended.
But our real finance buster is the insurance program. It really doesn’t matter who the provider is. We are the only school district in the audit comparisons that has $0 full time employee share for family coverage. It has been pointed out to me that the audit shows our employees benefit package may be a contributor to what appears to be lower wages.
Lastly I’d like to say that almost everyone agrees a bus garage is needed. But many people, myself included, would have liked to take a month or two to explore other options. And just to let you know, while many people have seen and pointed out the treacherous steps outside at the garage, (which by the way, I myself refused to use) there is a set of steps inside the building. I recommend using them instead of the scary stairs. I personally felt much safer.

Thank you sir, may I have another?

Please excuse me for not posting earlier but I was in an executive session until 10:50 PM. I am weary and sad. Not from being out so late but from the intentions of people who think this blog has no purpose. People are more informed now than ever before.
It appears this blog has served it’s purpose. We have more attendance at board meetings than ever before. Several comments were made regarding web activities. Before starting this blog I gave it much thought. I came to the conclusion that it is the only way I can garner input from my constituents in a manner that is fair and timely. People with serious concerns and suggestions E-mail me. People who want to insult me post. Getting people involved and talking is what this was all about. A teacher said "if the public can’t drag their butt in here (the board room) to have their say, too bad" Funny I didn’t hear that attitude when the district was asking for a levy last November. I was also invited to tour Schnee. What the lady didn’t realize is that a tour of the buildings was requested in January. Still waiting. A teacher also said that if board members had questions for staff we should come to the buildings and talk to them. The board was instructed by the CEO that any and all correspondence was to go through the CEO or CFO. We were also informed that our CEO is too busy to report to us every little issue in the district. Yet I am expected to approve most little issues. I can vote how I feel about it or I can try to represent the people. Which would you prefer?
I have had several people thank me for trying to postpone the bus garage purchase. Contrary to a statement made at the board meeting, the city is not interested in buying the districts current warehouse/bus building or land. I was told their money is tied up for quite a while in other projects. And our audit recommends the reduction of two busses and assumes we have 18 active.
Stay tuned for more......

Woke up this morning.....

This weeks board meeting is a DO NOT MISS!! It seems we have made the fastest real estate purchase known to man. Someone asked me just last week whenI thought the bus garage purchase would be on the agenda. I confidently said it would probably be at least a month since EPA inspections as well as your regular inspections were still needed. I should have seen this coming. I guess someone wanted this deal taken care of before our performance audit was made public. Seems the timing of our public forum and the announcement of the bus garage deal has ruffled a few feathers as well. Does anyone happen to know how much money is in our capital improvement fund? Two weeks ago we received $802,000.00. We're spending it faster than a red neck at a swap meet.
I've been out of town and do not have time at the moment to respond to comments posted on the previous blog. But rest assured I will. I'm a little surprised and disappointed. Disappointed at the personal insults. Surprised at the accusations. If you haven't figured out by now that I am about the only person willing to use my name on this, and anyone else's blog, you haven't been paying attention. And if I were writing in the style suggested it would be more like the Sopranos. So fagettaboudit.