En Garde

Interesting letter in the Falls News this week. I guess the attempts to deceive the public will never cease. What he forgot to tell you is that while some open enrollment at Silver Lake are Cuyahoga Falls children, they still cost more to educate in Silver Lake than at their home school. To make it simple for those of you that are confused- if you belong at Lincoln you would cost us $3000 less to educate you than it does at Silver Lake. No matter how you try to shake it down, 47% of Silver Lake elementary is open enrolled and it costs the people of Cuyahoga Falls more than it needs to. Way more.

He also forgot to tell you that the morning kindergarten is just as small as the afternoon kindergarten, and please take note that he left Dewitt out of the stats. He also failed to mention that while he was throwing out averages, there are many CF classrooms at 26-28 students and there none close to that large at Silver Lake. The biggy is this- if we would stop accepting open enrollment Silver Lake elementary would have one classroom in grades K-5. And still have the low average class size. That’s 5.5 extra teachers and one expensive building they want us to support.

Why am I making such a big deal about it? Because we are now faced with making cuts and facing levy threats again. When I look at our priorities, I am appalled. I am looking at this letter two days after paying my property taxes to the county and I have to say to myself, am I getting my moneys worth?

I guess the letter writer would have the people of Cuyahoga Falls support the curtailment plan which calls for gifted programming, auto technology, industrial arts, and foreign language cuts, reduce text book purchases, cutting teachers, and eliminating after school activities and field trips, so that the district can afford to keep his neighborhood school open.

I am still waiting for clarification on why my proposal is expensive and unrealistic. I will say this again- A majority of Summit County districts educate children in the same manner as I propose. They do it efficiently and effectively, and they score better on Ohio standards tests. Only Akron, Barberton and Cuyahoga Falls cling to the neighborhood schools concept which is proving to be a dinosaur in the world of education. It has put buildings in each of these districts at risk of parent choice programs. What that means is that if a particular building in a district performs poorly 3 years in a row, the school district must offer the child their choice of a school within a district at district expense. If the poor performance continues the child qualifies for a voucher to attend the private school of his/her choice. This IS where we’re heading ladies and gentlemen.

The district can set goals and form 15 more committees but they will not begin to make progress for this district as a whole until they face the real problem. The academic, socio/economic, and class size disparities will not go away on their own. We cannot achieve the “Excellent” rating doing it like we’ve done since the 1800’s.

Same Threat, Different Day

I don’t know where to begin on the “Curtailment Plan”. I know a lot of time and effort went into it. The funny thing is it is terribly reminiscent of “Project Recovery” of 4 years ago. In fact, if the district had followed through on “Project Recovery” we may not be in the situation we’re in today. But…

The plan was presented as a tactical levy move. Just as this one is. They might as well call it the “This is How We’re Gonna Stick it to You if You Don’t Pass a Levy Plan.” There is a little bit in it for everyone.

First I’d like you to remember that this board has publicly said that academics are of the utmost importance to it. Yet the cuts are deepest in this area. Eliminate gifted programming in elementary and middle schools, and advanced placement in the high school, eliminate industrial arts programs, reduce textbook purchases, eliminate field trips, auto technology, and one foreign language.

Are sports your thing? Well. We will raise the pay to play fee. This was unaffordable in 2005 but I guess with today’s improved economic conditions this is a viable option. Perhaps go to varsity sports only.

Think that jobs are valuable? We will RIF (read: lay off) some of the positions that we rehired from RIFing them 4 years ago.

After school activities? We will start closing buildings after school like we did 4 years ago until we abandoned that idea too.

Lower the GPA requirement to participate.!!!??? What a novel idea! Too bad somebody didn’t suggest that we not raise it to begin with because of the costs involved.

Eliminate district cell phones. This one makes me laugh. First of all, it can’t be done. Once again stepping backward. Just because we have a costly plan now, doesn’t mean we don’t need cell phones. And really? What is the savings on this one? How about eliminate half of the desk phones that no one answers anyway? Example- does every custodian and janitor need a land line? Walkie talkies and cell phones for key employees are necessary. Do you want Joe Wrestler traveling to Columbus on a bus with no cell? Granted, all the kids will have one despite the rules, but still…

Eliminate overtime except for emergencies, weekend building checks, and athletics. Ummm…. This one leaves me speechless. Where are our priorities?

My favorite- Pursue additional revenue by installing gas-oil wells on Bolich/Newberry property for natural gas for two buildings and royalties. I’ll let you decide who suggested this one. I thought those people were smarter than that. They must have locked in at $15 per MCF.

I must say a little something about this weeks Falls News Press. Particularly this letter to the editor. It seems the author forgot that he actually lives in Silver Lake. Geez, they might spend less on our education over here, but I can read a phone book. Apparently he knows better than the Falls News on the subject of what should or should not be in their paper. I guess he thinks falsehoods should be in the paper and facts on where our money is spent shouldn’t be.

I implore you to check out the “Curtailment Plan” as well as my proposal. There are many reasons we need to rethink how we spend our tax dollars. I wont settle for academic blackmail when I know we have the ability keep and enhance academics and programming while operating an efficient district.