Today I attended the Ohio School Boards Association Delegates Assembly. Governor Strickland made an appearance. I was curious what he would say regarding fixing school funding. Remember- he claimed that he would be a failure as Governor if he didn’t fix school funding. Unfortunately it will most likely cost us in one way or another. If we aint paying it in property taxes, we’ll be paying it in some other form. Unless we come up with a new thing to tax. (cough, cough, casino.) But done right. Anyway, back to the governor. He’s for and against all the right things when it comes to public education. Hold charter schools to the same standards, end unfunded mandates, and increasing the state share of district money. Everyone clapped at that one apparently unaware that the money still comes from the same pockets in the end. Yours, mine and theirs.
But I guess as a board member, it means a little more money for the district. Or does it? This amount will not even offset the amount lost as tangible personal property tax is phased out of district revenues. But I have to give the Governor credit. At least he realizes it is a serious problem. And more to his credit he is willing to give the people a voice in it. More forums from the Governors education series will be held in the next couple months. This time they are funding sessions.
Let’s hope that some Ohio’s best and brightest show up with solutions that will work. I think we have a Governor that is willing to listen to the people and a legislature that will back him up.
I didn’t support Governor Strickland but after having listened to several speeches and forums hosted by him, he seems like a man committed to funding schools fairly and adequately. His emphasis on the importance of public education in Ohio seems genuine. His desire to fix the funding problems in Ohio was reiterated today. He doesn’t have long to prove it. But after listening to him today, I think he just might be able to do it.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Would You Like That On Ice?
In regard to TR Harts letter (Falls News Press, Nov. 2, 2008) regarding my professionalism or lack thereof, I would like to ask him if he has attended any board meetings of late to witness the mentioned disruptive behavior? In fact I found Board President Barb Gunters quacking (CFBOE minutes Feb. 21, 2007) like a duck far more disruptive than anything I’ve seen so far. I question the letter writers motives being that he is the board presidents neighbor (two doors down I believe?) in Silver Lake. I ask Mr. Hart to list the criteria for constructive dissent. I assume this wont be a problem as he apparently reads my blog.
Constructive dissent has done nothing to prevent a levy from hitting the ballot next year. In fact let me tell you a funny story about constructive dissent Mr. Hart. Last year someone (me) mentioned that the GPA for participation in extra curricular activities seemed too low. Being lucky in the draw of the game of DNA, I was blessed with smart genes and have a hard time understanding why other people can’t “get it”. So the board decided that raising the required GPA should be considered. I did research and listened to what our staff had to say about it. It became apparent to me that raising the GPA helped no child. It only hurt those already having problems with school. I found no data that supported the notion that raising the GPA would bolster the overall education of the kids it affected.
Meanwhile, other board members were spending their time requesting data on who and what teams the higher GPA would affect and how to implement the plan that was concocted with no forward thinking and little to no research of the effects on kids or our budget. My (and the administrations) presenting data contrary to what this elite majority wanted was scoffed at and the new GPA was ram-rodded down our throats.
So here we are, almost 2009 and we can’t afford the intervention services that the higher GPA requires, in fact we can’t afford the contracted raises without passing a levy. Or making serious cuts. Again.
Constructive dissent got the people of this district nowhere. Keep drinking the Kool-Aid and remember that while you may be willing and able to vote yes on new and renewal levies, many of us over here on the other side of the lake cannot afford to.
The statement about attracting candidates intrigues me. I think you’ll be hard pressed to find someone more dedicated than me. You may not agree with my reasons for wanting this position, but apparently a lot of other people did. You see, I don’t just represent the “rah rah schools” crowd. I realized a long time ago that a representative was needed to protect our tax dollars. I have kids in our schools. I want the best for them. But just like at home, there is a limit. We can’t have the Cadillac on an Oldsmobile salary. And that, my friend is what the Cuyahoga Falls City School District is.
Constructive dissent has done nothing to prevent a levy from hitting the ballot next year. In fact let me tell you a funny story about constructive dissent Mr. Hart. Last year someone (me) mentioned that the GPA for participation in extra curricular activities seemed too low. Being lucky in the draw of the game of DNA, I was blessed with smart genes and have a hard time understanding why other people can’t “get it”. So the board decided that raising the required GPA should be considered. I did research and listened to what our staff had to say about it. It became apparent to me that raising the GPA helped no child. It only hurt those already having problems with school. I found no data that supported the notion that raising the GPA would bolster the overall education of the kids it affected.
Meanwhile, other board members were spending their time requesting data on who and what teams the higher GPA would affect and how to implement the plan that was concocted with no forward thinking and little to no research of the effects on kids or our budget. My (and the administrations) presenting data contrary to what this elite majority wanted was scoffed at and the new GPA was ram-rodded down our throats.
So here we are, almost 2009 and we can’t afford the intervention services that the higher GPA requires, in fact we can’t afford the contracted raises without passing a levy. Or making serious cuts. Again.
Constructive dissent got the people of this district nowhere. Keep drinking the Kool-Aid and remember that while you may be willing and able to vote yes on new and renewal levies, many of us over here on the other side of the lake cannot afford to.
The statement about attracting candidates intrigues me. I think you’ll be hard pressed to find someone more dedicated than me. You may not agree with my reasons for wanting this position, but apparently a lot of other people did. You see, I don’t just represent the “rah rah schools” crowd. I realized a long time ago that a representative was needed to protect our tax dollars. I have kids in our schools. I want the best for them. But just like at home, there is a limit. We can’t have the Cadillac on an Oldsmobile salary. And that, my friend is what the Cuyahoga Falls City School District is.
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