By Rich SmithThe $450K GVSD two-year levy failed almost by a 2:1 ratio. The statistics resulting from this election are revealing: 583 voters cast 402 “no” votes and 181 people voted “yes” for the levy.
Eighteen months earlier, 988 voters cast ballots in which a $12.65M bond for new school passed with 760 “yes” votes and 220 “no” votes. While 405 fewer people voted in this levy election, almost twice as many “no” votes were cast against the levy than those cast against the bond. A low turnout also contributed to the outcome. Over 200 children attend GV School; I would have expected at least 300 parents to cast votes and most of them (besides teachers and staff) vote to approve the levy. Nevertheless, only 181 “yes” votes were cast.
Some say that all the Alamar turmoil in the county and the continuing hullabaloo in the school district itself contributed to the large “no” vote. Other reasons may also be responsible. The country is going through a “no more taxes” period of self-examination, and the overall mood is to control spending. Many voters I spoke with opted for a school that concentrates on the “3 R’s” and have little motivation to fund other programs.
The burden of growing taxes was also a contributor. A good look at our homeowner’s tax bills, already burdened by county taxes, various taxing districts, and School and Library bonds, also contributed to the large number of “no” votes: “Well, the levy may only be $100 more each year, but that’s on top of everything else.
The low turnout is more puzzling. Did a lack of advertising and patron apathy contribute? The levy was not as well advertised as was the bond and as a result many folks may have been unaware of the vote, while others simply remained unmotivated. Then again, many folks are not here during the winter months or were out of town at the time. Finally, the new process of absentee voting was more difficult than in previous elections and could account for the small numbers of absentee votes.
The bottom line is the community is in no mood to increase funding for the school, or any other public works now. The school trustees and administration must now figure out how to maintain the quality of education with less money, and that ultimately means less for the children. This will not be an easy task.
Thanks Rich. I agree that all the issues you mentioned contributed to the failure of the levy. I do have high hopes that we can pass a levy yet this year with better and more information getting out to the voters.
ReplyDeleteYou are right on, Rich.
ReplyDeleteThe trustees must hear the message - cut the budget, make it with the money you have.
Thank you for the nice article Rich.
ReplyDeleteI was VERY surprised by the results myself. With all the numerous recalls the school district has been dealing with this past year, the voters ultimately turned over an enormous amount of responsibility to the board. The voters placed it in their hands to decide who will stay and who will go this coming school year. Nobody should have a word of criticism when their favorite teacher is no longer there as ultimately the community has spoken...cut..cut..cut.
I agree. Funny that the community who always seems to have bad things to say about their board members, have now said, we want you the board to decide who comes & who goes. They went from not liking them, bashing them and recalling them, to giving them total control. Funny how things work out!
ReplyDeleteIt just goes to show that when it is crunch time the wisdom of the masses prevails.
ReplyDeleteThis board, this superintendent, this year, make the cuts. We trust you. We have voted our trust.
Now do what you must.
I don't trust the super and I do think that the leadership is a big part of why the levy failed. Sorry but it's true. Oh I know the super or his supporters will say it's not him it's the board but that would only be part true. We still haven't heard valid explanations about some of the unethical happenings over there. Why would I fund a district run by those types of people. I just wish everyone would quit quibbling over the little details and look at the big picture. Poor leadership has gotten us where we are today.
ReplyDeleteAnd so you voted no and took it out on the kids? Good move there! I'm sure everyone was hoping that people would put aside their personal differences with people and vote for what was best for the children, and also best for those teachers that they love & support so much. Now they could lose about 5 of the teachers....way to prove your point!
ReplyDeleteSorry but what other way was there to prove the point? He doesn't listen and when he does he lies - and if you're honest with yourself you know it too. I feel sorry for the teachers and the kids but until this issue is resolved it will be more of the same. I have never seen the school in such turmoil for such a long time. I was on board with it all until it was proven to me over and over that there was something really wrong. I have had too many conversations with too many half-truths or flat out lies to be able to just get over it. Maybe if he really cared for the school he would offer his resignation so we could get a levy passed. Or is he the only one worth protecting?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry. Truly sorry for everyone including him but we're in serious trouble here.
You're always a dead give away when you say "I was on board with it all until it was proven to me over and over that there was something really wrong. I have had too many conversations with too many half-truths or flat out lies to be able to just get over it". Just come out and say who you are...it's very obvious. Same old nonsense that you said over & over on the evil blog! And again I'll tell you to get over it. How do you know that the things you have "accused" him of haven't been handled behind closed doors? You'd only know that if you are a board member, or if you have a board member that is telling you executive things. Either way are wrong. Assume they've been dealt with, which is why there is no more going on, and move on. Holding grudges will get your no where. When your child isn't able to do sports next year, say for example wrestling...won't you be bummed? Who will you be hurting then? No, he's not the only one worth protecting...but the fact of the matter is, he doesn't NEED protecting...he hasn't done anythign wrong! Come forth with something he's done wrong and we'll talk...until then...stop it! I'm sick & tire of people complaining about "all he's done"..when there's nothing that he's done. Why should be resign? And coward down to you all? No way...I say stand up for what you know is right! He has 2 more years...fact! So unless you want to sit back and wait for 2 more years, deal with it and move on. your only hurting your own children! Quit being so stubborn! We're only in "serious trouble" because of what is going on in the whole country, not just here at the school!
ReplyDeleteAnon 3:09,
ReplyDeleteAll of the super's supporters I know are also board supporters. They are on the same team.
Why would they say it's not him it's the board? You make no sense.
Why would they say it's not him it's the board? You make no sense.
ReplyDeleteI don't get it? Where did I say that?
3:39 - again you miss the whole point. You either want to save him or the school at this point. No way to have both.
ReplyDeleteI guess if a guy goes in front of the community and lies I would expect him to come back in front of the community to make it right. He hasn't done that. I don't know and don't care if it was handled behind closed doors. I hope so. He made statements in public.
ReplyDeleteAnon 3:24,
ReplyDeleteYou have had "too many conversations" and "too many lies" to get over it? What a laugh!
Are you the jilted girl friend? Give him up! Or perhaps the disgraced biased writer for the IW; or the outed blogsterette?
Or both.
3:59 - neither, thank you. Go ahead and pick apart the comment. I really don't care what you think. You guys can avoid the real issue and continue to watch the district go down the tubes or you can encourage a solution. You always say "he's done nothing wrong". If that's true, then what gives? Why can't he right the ship? Oh ya, it's seven people who caused the problem. Well heck then, why not just whip out "The M factor" and fix it.
ReplyDeleteAs far as jilted girlfriends go - wrong gender and he's not my type.
The ship is righted. And the budget cuts will complete the righting.
ReplyDeleteThe district will have the right staff at an affordable tax cost, and still maintain excellence. That is what we pay him to do.
It is happening.
I completely disagree with you. The ship is sinking! And I guess the captain is going down with it.
ReplyDeleteNo trust = no levy. Pretty simple.
ReplyDeletemaintain excellence. That's a laugh. We won't have a school to worry about pretty soon all the good teachers will be gone of they have their way. If you speak up you're gone they only want sheep they can control. You all be happy being sheep I will think for myself thank you.
ReplyDeleteWell I hate to admit I didn't vote but I didn't. I couldn't bring myself to vote no but I couldn't vote yes either because of what's happening. I think a lot of people voted no as a vote of no confidence for the administration. I can't say I am totally ok with that but then again I stayed away from the voting booth so I am just as responsible. The money hasn't been handled the best way it could have been. What tipped it for me is the recent vendetta against a dedicated staff member. It that happens to someone like that the rest of them aren't safe anyway. I mean they say do it for the kids but the kids are being hurt already with this. It's horrible.
ReplyDeleteThe vendetta is a problem and is over a year old now. Many of us are tired of it.
ReplyDeleteThey need to accept that he has a contract, will be the superintendent for two more years, and stop their vendetta against him.
Let the man do the work the board directs him to.
Because he does a lot of "work" outside the view of anyone - even the board. Let the board to some "work" and show him the door.
ReplyDeleteYou're tired of the vendetta so we just sweep it under the rug? Never address the issue? Good plan - just like the e-mails, voter intimidation, pulling newspapers, poor fiscal management.............ok no prob. Let's see how that works for two more years. I'll bet the contract can be termed for lack of acceptable performance.
ReplyDeleteWhat emails? Which voters?
ReplyDeleteI thought they are audited.
I have no idea what you are talking about. Emails? What did he send out? Are you talking about the math teacher? Cut off his email if you have to, he works for the district. Get control of the staff and maybe the vote will change.
The infamous g-mails. The voters on the recall petition for Dunn recall.
ReplyDeleteQuit abusing the staff and the vote will change.
Yes I voted NO because of the administration. I wouldn't give a lousy businessman more money to do more damage with. Doesn't make any sense to me. I've never seen anything like this.
ReplyDeleteI've spoken to someone who has lived her life here and raised her kids here and says that as bad as this division in the community is, it's been *worse* in the past. I have a hard time believing that, but she's been here longer than most of us, so I tend to believe her.
ReplyDeleteRich, I agree with all your reasons why the levy failed. Without the controversy it may have been a little closer but I believe it still would have failed. It took us 12 years to pass a school building bond in this community and just as many to build a library. The question I have with only teaching the three “R’s” in today’s society; what will those children be doing with all the free time? With both parents working the children will be left to entertain themselves. I guess some parents; the ones who can afford it, will have their children in private music lessons and programs, possibly driving them to Boise for a more rounded education. May be it is time for the government to take a step back and let parents take responsibility for raising and entertaining their children. I believe video games, television and the internet will be educating our children. I don’t know the answers. It seems to me Idaho has little interest in providing quality education for the lower and middle class people. We are a selfish people and that will ultimately become our demise.
ReplyDeleteAll of your accusations are simply that, and nothing has ever been proven. You mean to tell me that if he stood up in public and admitted to something you'd all hug him and be good friends? No. I have faith that the board has dealt with problems, and it's none of our business what happened behind closed doors. Trust that if they told you it's taken care of, it is. You can't fire someone when they haven't done anything wrong, or you'd have a huge lawsuit. To "get rid of him" before his contract would result in 2 things, paying off his contract, which would be quite an amount, and then paying the lawsuit he'd file for letting him go without reason. Neither of which the school has money for. They'd be fools to do that. Talk about being irresponsible with money! They (the board) needs to quit getting involved in the little spats that are going on out in the community and look at the job he's done and move forward. I know it's one job I would never want to have...who would want to be criticized like he has been?
ReplyDeleteAnnon 5:14...poor fiscal management...can you prove that? that's quite the accusation, I think you should have some back up for that. Voter intimidation...isn't that really just an opinion? How can you "prove" someone was intimidated?
Anon 5:40,
ReplyDeleteDidn't Dunn lose?
What is all this about gmails? I have a gmail account. Is this still about the math teacher and him sending things out from the school? Is gmail supposed to be blocked?
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ReplyDeleteOh so now today it's Terry we'll accuse. At least we're giving Janell a break. What makes you people think that you can go on here and name names? You have no proof that she is the one posting, and I'll tell you it's NOT her!
ReplyDelete"you & your think alike friend need to fade away"...back-acha'
Wow annon 10:02...pretty bold of you to name names. See you "that side" plays? They'll name names, throw people under the bus when they have no proof of who is on here.....if you read all "the other sides" post, they never name names. You can read between the lines and figure out who they are talking about, but no names are mentioned. My goodness, if that table was turned it sure would be a different story!
ReplyDeleteAlso Annon...your last line is rude! Maybe they think YOUR SIDE should go away! It takes one to know one....I could go all day with stupid comments to come back at your stupid line!
Sorry I meant to say see "how" that side plays...
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how quickly this blog, intended to analyize the results of the levy vote, morpfed into another exchange of old complaints and counter complaints. Can't you folks on both sides stop quibling and start thinking how we are going to provide the children with the best education we can afford?
ReplyDeletetis a rainy day....
ReplyDeleteIt really all ties together. The Levy not passing by such a wide margin says that the community doesn't care about supporting the children, they care about making a statement about how they feel about the administration....so how can the quibbling stop when the public has voiced such a strong opinion?
ReplyDeleteIt really does tie together. The levy not passing by such a wide margin says that the community cannot pay any more taxes. They did make a statement about how they feel about the administration - they trust it to make the cuts they voted for.
ReplyDeleteThe quibbling should stop since the public has voiced these very clear opinions.
The g-mails are not about a gmail account. They are about anonymous e-mails sent to patrons from "Gene". Tomlin told some cock-and-bull story about them in public to explain them away. The story changed several times and got more fantastic each time. It was a turning point for many. He lied, but a bow around the lie and expected the public to thank him for the explanation. Unethical in the very least and just one example of character that needs some tuning up.
ReplyDeleteSo these were the legal messages sent to the woman who published the letter with lies in it in the Idaho World? And Tomlin tried to "explain them away?" This was an interesting non-story.
ReplyDeleteThe bigger question than why did he even respond or answer, was why anyone cared who wrote them?
That it is brought up a year (or so?) later shows how small minded your community really is.
But let's go with your last line - so maybe his character does need tuning up - unlike any of the rest of us...that is a reason to vote no and punish the children?
No wonder you are known as "mean valley."
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ReplyDeleteAnd just so you know, the woman who wrote the letter isn't a liar - unlike Gene.
ReplyDeleteSo let me get this straight. You can lie but if it was a long time ago and it's brought up - the person bringing it up is amall minded? How about the person telling the lie? What about him?
ReplyDeleteDon't let working for funding for the kids get in you peoples way of trashing other people.
ReplyDeleteLet's all make sure everyone knows everyone elses inperfections - that will bring money in.
You're whiners and losers, and you disgust me.
Annon 7:50...couldn't agree more! Well said. Who in the world thinks they are perfect? you just admitted that his "character needs tuning up"...and yet that's reason to get rid of him or vote no for the school? That's absurd! Who doesn't make a mistake now & then. My goodness if I were held accountable for every single thing I did wrong, I'd be spending all day apologizing, and anyone who thinks they are different than that needs to look a little harder at themselves. You know what they say about those that live in glass houses.....
ReplyDeleteIt's time to move past that people. Our school and our community is not getting better, it's getting worse and why? Just because you don't like some G mail letter that was sent over a year ago? Once again I'll tell you that my faith is in the board that they have dealt with this issue A LONG TIME AGO, and now there has been nothing more done or said. How can you keep bringing this up...what are you wanting done from it? You want him fired over it? Be real! Knock all this off and move on! Oh wait, I guess by saying that you'll assume I'm Janell or Terry...or wait, they already had their day of getting bashed...maybe now I'm a different board member. You assume the only ones that have the supers back are board members? You're sadly wrong!
Rich, I think it is great that you spent the time writing an article about the school. My concern is you are getting your information from one side. I am at the school everyday and hear the complaints and concerns. You are wrong about why the levy did not pass. If people really want to why the levy failed why not send out a questionnaire asking? Then we would have the truth. I do not attend the Senior Center events so that is why I do not makes comments or assumptions about what is going on there. Before you write another article about the school and the issues, branch out and talk to others. This free advice will keep you from looking dumb.
ReplyDelete"looking dumb"....wow. It saddens me that you claim your at the school every day, so I have to assume your either an employee or a parent, both of which should know better than to tell someone they look dumb. And yet you don't think your biased opinion there didn't look "dumb"? Good grief people..when will you ever learn?
ReplyDeleteI must have missed the part in Rich's article where he asked for "advice"???
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:13,
ReplyDelete400 people voted against the levy but you know the truth because you are at the school every day?
No wonder they are broke if they have 400 employees.
Maybe Rich is out and around the community more than many of us and actually has a better handle on cross-sections of public sentiment.
Just a thought.
The article was NOT about what is going on in the school. It was an analysis of possible reasons why the bond failed, with the hope we can better understand the votes for next time. Sorry, but there were many reasons for the failure, not just disastification with the administration. Proper understanding of these factors could lead to passage on the next levy attempt.
ReplyDelete"the next levy attempt"...what on earth makes you think they'll try again? They'd be foolish to do so. The public has spoken, now get busy.
ReplyDelete