The second attempt this year at getting taxpayers to shell out for supplemental school funding has failed again.
The unofficial count for the $600K, two-year levy, was Yes, 176; No, 503, which takes it this time around to almost 3-1. The $450K, two-year levy election held last March 8, failed 2-1, with 488 voters stepping up to the ballot box. Today, 679 citizens made their vote count.
Absentee voters made a better show this summer, with 16 yeas and 77 nays, as opposed to March, with only 2 yeas and 18 "no sirs".
The good news is the previous administration brought forth a balanced budget and the new board adopted it with just a few revisions. The school has a balanced budget for the coming year. Over the last two years, non-essentials have been trimmed down. Let's wish the new administration good luck in operating within their means. Parents, teachers and community members are already donating hours and finding ways to make it work.
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Thanks Angel!! Mr. Ward is probably drinking his sorrows away as we speak!! Going to bed with a smile on my face!!
ReplyDeleteI agree! Could not be more happy this morning. Lets see what they can blame the failure on this time. Last time they tried to blame the administration. They got rid of him, and it fails even more?? Maybe he has a few more friends than they realized!
ReplyDeleteI voted Yes last time and I voted Yes this time. It had nothing to do with who was on the board or who was sitting in the superintendent's seat. I'm sure many No voters felt the same way.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to read the comments from both Frank and GardenValleyOtherSide who see this as some personal victory for the departed superintendent. I don't think we should assume that he wanted this to happen, for to do so would really be a shame.
Now hopefully those people who put out a lot of energy both for and against the levy can come together and spend that energy to find other ways to support the school, our great community deserves nothing less.
You're hopping all around SupportGV...I just read the exact same post (or close to it) on the other blog: http://meanvalley.typepad.com/98point6/
ReplyDeleteposted from "moving on". Glad to see you hop around like I do.
My no vote has everything to do with who is sitting on that board, and you're foolish to say your vote isn't determined by that. Who do you think makes all the decisions about the school or what happens or doesn't happen there? The board! Look at the moves they have made starting in May? You think those were good moves? Do you have any idea where those "moves" are going to end? It's not good, let me tell you that. They should have just rode out the old supers contract, telling him that they wouldn't be renewing it when the 2 years was up, giving him some time to looks elsewhere, and paid the contract out. Voiding that contract was a huge mistake!
GardenValleyOtherSide - This is the type of comment I'm talking about that doesn't really solve any problems but it does continue the mean-spirited argument. You call me foolish and I guess I could do the same if I choose.
ReplyDeleteNeither of us knows what event or events precipitated the releasing of the superintendent. It's a personnel matter and those who were privy to those reasons cannot reveal them. You would want the same courtesy if it was you.
It's easy to armchair quarterback when you're not really involved.
So no, for me it wasn't about the board. It was about being short teaching staff and aids. Cutting a valuable preschool program, not being able to compensate the many hard working coaches and staff members who do so much for so little as well as not having anything in reserve. It was about not shortening the school year and hopefully warding off any additional furlough days - it was for those reasons and more.
So GardenValleyOtherSide, what positive actions are you willing to take to offer support to the district? What are your ideas on how the district might raise the needed funds or fill some of the gaps caused by funding shortfalls?
At some point the finger pointing and hate needs to stop and be replaced with teamwork and encouragement.
What is really sad is that there were people who voted no because they believed the lies being told about what the levy money was going to be used for. It was NOT to pay out MT's contract. It WAS for services for the children in this community. Are the kids really not worth $0.75/day? (assuming your property is valued at $400,000)
ReplyDeleteYes, I will bring up the kids. Not blithely, either. This levy was for them. This community just doesn't seem to understand that. It's sad.
***Rich Smith said...The levy failed because the request was for a blank check. Lacking any detailed information from the board, that is what it amounted to, a blank check. Ask why the board failed to detail the request and refused to hold public meetings to inform the community? I trust that the two loud "NO" votes will dispel the rumors that the previous failed levy had something to do with the administration and the board will now table the effort for another levy attempt in November. These elections cost the school district and county money they do not have.
ReplyDeleteTrustees, now please work within your balanced budget.
I agree Angel. This board made no attempts to have public meetings to discuss what would be done with the money. In the past, the school has held several meetings, even gone to Lowman to do so. All this board did was send out a silly flyer, which did more harm than good when it stated that AFTER the levy passes, the chair would consider a meeting to discuss what is done with the money. AFTER? What good does after do? We wanted to know up front what you will do with the money.
ReplyDeleteSupport GV...giving it away again with your big words that you like to use.....I have no idea how the district will raise the money to make it work, nor do I really care. You can say that to you it did not matter who was on the board, just as I can say that it DID matter to me who was on the board, and that I don't trust them, or trust their judgement. Why would I let them in charge of so much money if I don't trust them? They have shown me in the last few months that they are careless and made some terrible choices. Whether I am a friend of Tomlins or not has nothing to do with it...he was treated poorly, and that is the boards doings. Bottom line is they can't be trusted to make wise choices, and so I didn't "trust" them with my money. They'll have to balance the budget with what they have, and that should start with some cuts backs. The teachers need to come to grips with the "furlough" days issue....across the country teachers are dealing with it. They should be thankful for all the more they had to suffer and be thankful for collecting a paycheck each month!
Disappointed....how on earth can you say "it's for the kids". How exactly are the kids being effected by this? Because they don't have music, who cares? Because they cut 5 days from the calendar when they had 10 to spare..who cares? Because the teachers took a pay cut, who cares? How do those things actually "affect" the kids? Do you think the kids went to school today sad? No, they went in, ate breakfast like they always do, went to math, science & english like they need to, ate lunch like they always did, and then rode home on the bus like they always did. How exactly did it affect the kids?
ReplyDeleteRich,
ReplyDeleteAre you saying then if there are community meetings held outlining what the money is to be used for, you would be willing to pass a levy? The beginning of your comment suggests that, but your last few lines sound like it wouldn't have made any difference.
Rich:
ReplyDeletePerhaps the board will take your comments into consideration on future attempts. The previous board attempted a levy, this board did and in all liklihood so will future boards. Could you please share under what circumstances you would have voted Yes on the levy?
GardenValleyOtherSide:
I think the readers understand that in your own words - you don't really care.
Support GV...yes, that's true...because I don't trust the new board. Change the board, get rid of some of the cronies, show that you are doing things by law, and not behind the Longhorn meetings, and maybe it'll pass. Probably not though, I really does all come down to money, and the lack thereof that everyone has! If that board even TRIES to run another levy, this town would flip out. The first try was about a 2-1 vote, this one was almost a 3-1, what do you think that all means? That means don't try another one, no means no....no matter what!
ReplyDeleteGardenValleyOtherSide,
ReplyDeleteHow does it affect the kids? Why not ask the parents of the kids in the combined elementary classes? I am one of them. It has only been a few days so far, but it seems like one curriculum is being taught in the combined classes. Did you have to skip learning about fractions, and then get math homework with fractions? Some subjects are okay to skip a year, but I don't believe Math is one of them.
Why can't kids in Middle school take Spanish AND play a sport? Yet they all have a Study Hour?
What about the High school kids that have to fulfill a humanities requirement and their only choice is Art?
They have no choices. I don't know about you, but I had choices, and thank goodness I didn't have to take Art because it would have brought down my GPA.
Yes, it DOES affect the kids. I know, I know, they should just suck it up and be happy that they have a school at all. Is that what you told your kids? Or do you have any?
I can relate to the "art" classes...ha. How about Drama? Yes! Music is important. There is a possibility that those who want to help fund humanities may have the opportunity to do it. That's all I can say for now, as I don't know the particulars. I can't afford more taxes but I am amenable to helping to create an educational endowment.
ReplyDeleteGreat news Angel!
ReplyDeleteSupport...perhaps you should listen. I clearly stated that I would pull my kids and home school them if I needed to, so yes, I have kids...what does that have to do with it..my feelings stay the same. My kids took IDLA classes this summer to catch up on humanities they needed. That is an option. I wish our school had home economics, but they don't, and that's the bummer about going to a small school, you don't have all the choices you would in a bigger school district...so make what you can out of it and move on. The school had done combined classes for a few other years before this. My child was part of a 5/6 combo Mr. Arnold taught, and then again another child was part of a 3/4 combo Mr. Arnold taught....and guess what...they survived. It's not the end of the world to combine classes, and is commonly done with smaller classes. You would be more happy with a teacher being paid to teach 8 or 9 kids? That is a waste of taxpayer money if you ask me. Get a teacher who is able to do 2 grades at once, and have them combine. I feel they could even have done more combining than they did. What about when your kids go onto high school...there are lots of classes where there are freshman, sophmores, juniors & seniors all in the same class...it works.
ReplyDeleteAt $75 a piece, depending on how many IDLA classes they need to take, IDLA could end up costing some families more than the increase in taxes had the levy passed. That said, maybe parents should be the ones to foot the bill for the shortfall no matter what.
ReplyDeleteHome Ec--what a thought. How about getting someone to volunteer to do a class, and use facilities elsewhere? Like the Senior Center? Not sure about how that would fly with credits...? Probably not...but maybe...
ReplyDeleteThe school has a small Home Ec. facility that I'll bet could be used. Wouldn't it be great to have a volunteer teach meal planning, nutrition, basic culinary skills etc. The school also has a very nice shop area. I'm not sure but I think if the person volunteering has some expertise in the subject there may be a way for it to be credit worthy.
ReplyDeleteAnother area that is perfect for volunteering is the school library which unfortunately is closed much of the day.
I think alot of the problem with getting people to "volunteer" is that they have no guarantee that person will do the whole semester..and what happens if they don't? When it's a volunteer situation, you can't hold them accountable to be there everyday for that amount of time, so it become a problem. Yes, the IDLA cost 75.00 per class, however, that money is refunded to you when & if your child passes the class. The school pays you back for the class, if the child has to take the class because of "scheduling conflicts"....well, obviously if there aren't any humanities to pick from, that's a conflict! I love the program. My kids take it, and work on it from home, and on weekends, it's a great program. The school has had offers from someone wanting to 'teach' shop or home ec, but as I said, it's a little more involved than you might realize with commitment.
ReplyDeleteAngel, I'm with you on the Drama and Music. One or both of those subjects would be a welcome addition to the school. I seem to recall that one or more of the other small districts shown during the Gardners budget presentation had volunteers teaching classes. While GV other side makes a point about accountability, wouldn't it be worth a try?
ReplyDeleteDisappointed...you don't realize what is involved with scheduling. How can you give it a try? What do you do with those kids when that person is absent? Hire a sub? Now your spending money that wasn't supposed to be spent. What if the person decides it's not working out for them and they quit...what do you do with those students? There's also a few law issues, do they have to be certified to teach a class that gives credits? I'm sure there must be more to it, or they would have done it years ago.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I've never been reimbursed for a class. Maybe there's a check waiting for me! I need to check it out.
ReplyDeleteGardenValleyOtherSide :
ReplyDeleteI have a family member who works at a school in another state. They have a Volunteer Coordinator who is also a volunteer. The Volunteers do make a committment and if they are not going to be there, they are responsible for making sure someone is there. They are also "signed off on" by a certified teacher or administrator. That said, I think the best place to start is in the library where missing one period or day would not be as big a deal.
But I do think in the face of limited funds we have to get creative. And we can't go into it thinking it won't work or it for sure won't.
Hillbilly in the Holler said..."I had no idea that IDLA costs were refunded. It sounds as if only some people knew that. My child took several IDLA courses and passed, and I just paid the bill, as that's what it took to fulfill the requirements. Have others had experience with the school refunding the money? I'm not asking for the money back....I just don't think any refunds should have been made -- especially with the financial turmoil that the school is in. AND, I don't think there should be a budget line item for future refunding. Can anyone substantiate this? It could be a big chunk of money going out of the school's pockets."
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why others don't know, but that is the way it works for all schools I believe (I know HSB does this). Now it has to be a class that the school does not have, or it has to be a scheduling conflict. For instance, you couldn't have your child take English on line just because you don't like the teacher, or same with Spanish, or any other class that the school offers...but yes, if your child passes the class, there is a form that you can get on the schools website for reimbursements, and fill one out for IDLA. Now if you missed it, and they've closed the books for that period of time, I think you might be out of luck, but keep that in mind for future classes. You can also talk to the IDLA teacher rgilbertson@gvsd.net for any questions regarding this. The form has to be completed, turned into her, then signed for by the counselor, saying that the refund is due, and then processed in the business office. I think it's a fair deal. They aren't paying the teacher any more for being in the room while your kid takes the class, she's getting paid regardless.
ReplyDeleteSupport: that sounds like a very well organized program, and if the school could find someone to be that organized, and that committed, I think that's great. The library sounds like a great place to start, however, they would have to be "trained" so that they could log onto the computer and be able to check books in & out for students, so it would have to be something that Ms. Edge or someone would be willing to train them for, or it wouldn't work. They can always use help in the library!
ReplyDelete